Heterogeneity in the pharmacological management of radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis

A systematic review of outcomes associated with patients admitted to hospital with emergency haematuria

Objective

Unscheduled admission for haematuria accounts for 15% of all urological emergencies with over 25 000 patients admitted each year in the UK. It is associated with prolonged admission and poor clinical outcomes. This systematic review aims to determine current management strategies and outcomes in these patients.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in October 2023 across MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials and retrospective and prospective observational studies assessing the management of patients admitted as an emergency with haematuria. The primary outcome measure was the length of stay (LoS). Secondary outcomes included hospital readmission, mortality and health resource use.

Results

Three eligible publications with a total of 219 patients were identified. Mean length of stay was 5.8 days. The pooled mean age of unscheduled emergency haematuria was 74.8 years and 87.9% of patients were male. Bladder cancer was present in 17% of patients and, similarly, prostate cancer was present in 17% of patients.

Conclusions

Unscheduled admission for haematuria is associated with long LoS. This systematic review has demonstrated a lack of data reporting outcomes of unscheduled haematuria and its management strategies. There is a need to perform large-scale prospective studies to better understand this cohort of patients.

Advancements in Understanding and Managing Radiation Cystitis: A Comprehensive Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention strategies, and management options for radiation cystitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have shed light on the pathophysiology of radiation cystitis, highlighting the role of inflammation, fibrosis, and vascular damage. Emerging preventive measures like stem cell therapy offer promise, alongside novel treatments such as amniotic bladder therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This review outlines the latest research on radiation cystitis, covering its pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention, and management. Major findings include insights into the mechanisms of RC development, promising preventive and therapeutic approaches, and the importance of standardized treatment pathways. Future research should focus on identifying genetic risk factors, improving treatment efficacy, and enhancing patient outcomes. This review offers valuable insights for clinicians and researchers, guiding future investigations into radiation cystitis management.

Incidence and Management of Radiation Cystitis After Pelvic Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Analysis From a National Database

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of radiation cystitis on prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy (RT), evaluating the most used management strategies, and identifying potential risk factors associated with the development of this condition.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted using the PearlDiver Mariner database, containing patient records compiled between 2011 and 2022. International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were employed to identify population and outcomes. We evaluated patients who underwent RT for PCa and subsequently developed radiation cystitis. Primary objective was to determine the overall incidence of radiation cystitis. Furthermore, we investigated its associated risk factors and management.

RESULTS

A total of 274,865 PCa patients underwent RT during the study period. Of these, 48,713 (17.7%) experienced hematuria following RT, while 7721 (2.8%) were diagnosed with radiation cystitis. After the diagnosis, 2307 patients (29.9%) received diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopic interventions. Only 59 patients (0.76%) underwent endovascular embolization, while 151 patients (1.95%) required cystectomy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, administered to 1287 patients (16.67%), was the only treatment that displayed a significant upward trend. Multivariate logistic regression identified obesity (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.23-1.35), smoking (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.22-1.33), and diabetes (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.26-1.39), as significant risk factors for radiation cystitis (all P-values <.001).

CONCLUSION

Radiation cystitis represents a rare complication after pelvic RT with significant clinical impact. Its incidence has remained stable throughout the study period. The identified risk factors corroborate the pathophysiology of radiation cystitis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was the only treatment to show an upward trend during the study period.

Introducing WASHOUT: A Large-scale Observational Study of Inpatient Haematuria

WASHOUT is an international, multicentre, prospective observational study aiming to describe the management of unscheduled haematuria admissions. Preregistration can be done using the following link: https://redcap.link/WASHOUT.