Photo Credit: Elena Merkulova
The following is a summary of “Comparison of treatments for preventing lower urinary tract symptoms after BCG immunotherapy of bladder tumors : a systematic review and network meta-analysis,” published in the January 2025 issue of Urology by Chen et al.
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy is the standard for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) but often causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) like urgency, frequency, dysuria, and pelvic pain, affecting adherence and outcomes.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study comparing treatments for preventing LUTS after BCG instillations through a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA).
They obtained eligible studies from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases and searched the included studies’ references. The protocol followed the PRISMA checklist. NMA was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and STATA MP 18.0.
The results showed that 6 studies with 556 participants were included. Celecoxib and prulifloxacin reduced LUTS incidence, including frequency, urgency, and dysuria. Phenazopyridine improved pelvic pain the most.
Investigators concluded that celecoxib, prulifloxacin, and phenazopyridine effectively reduced the incidence of LUTS after BCG immunotherapy.
Source: bmcurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12894-024-01675-6
