iAluRil®

What is iAluRil®?

iAluRil is a medical device for the treatment of cases where the loss of components of the bladder lining causes chronic inflammation and infection.

iAluRil can be used to treat:  

• Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome;
• Chemical cystitis – damage to the bladder lining caused by chemotherapy;
• Radiotherapy-induced cystitis – damage to the bladder lining caused by radiation to the pelvis;
• Recurrent urinary tract infections.

iAluRil works directly on the bladder lining to form a protective barrier between the bladder lining, and the irritant compounds found in urine.

How does iAluRil work?

In a healthy bladder there is a natural barrier that protects the bladder lining from the urine. This barrier is called the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer. If this barrier is damaged, urine comes into direct contact with the tissues of the bladder lining and over time can cause damage to these tissues. This damage can lead to a range of problems that cause symptoms, such as pain, urgency (the need to go to the toilet immediately) and frequency (the need to go to the toilet more often). iAluRil contains two of the natural GAGs that form this barrier; hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). By administering iAluRil directly into the bladder, these GAGs help to repair the damage to the GAG layer and restore the bladder’s protective coating, relieving these symptoms.

How is iAluRil administered?

iAluRil is administered directly into the bladder using a thin tube (catheter) that is passed through the urethra (the passage through which urine comes out when you go to the toilet) into the bladder. Before administering iAluRil, you will need to urinate and then the bladder can be emptied of all traces of urine by inserting a catheter and waiting for all of the urine to leave the bladder. When the liquid has been passed into your bladder it should be held there for at least half an hour. Once it can be held no more, the bladder can be emptied by urinating as normal.

This is a relatively painless and routine procedure, which may initially be carried out by a doctor or a nurse, however, many patients can be taught to do this themselves as it is very simple. If this is something that you feel you would prefer to do, then do discuss this with your doctor or nurse and they will be able to offer more advice.

iAludaptor

As an alterntive to catheter administation the iAludaptor may be used. Situated at the opening of the urethra, the product is administered under low pressure through the urethra into the bladder resulting in a pain free application without the risk of injury or infection, associated with catheter administration.

How long will my treatment last?

iAluRil treatment begins with a course of instillations given once a week for the first month. The instillations will then be given once every two weeks for the second month followed by once every month until the symptoms settle down. Once the symptoms have improved, the interval between instillations can be increased slowly until you are happy that the regular doses are enough to keep symptoms under control. If the symptoms reoccur, the initial course of instillations can be repeated in order to settle the symptoms down again.

Will I get any side effects?

The two components of iAluRil are found naturally in your body, therefore, it is unlikely that this product will cause any side effects. Occasionally the administration process can cause minor irritation; however, this is caused by the procedure and not the product itself. If you do experience any side effects discuss them with your nurse or doctor and between you a decision can be made whether to continue with or stop treatment.

Further information

If you have any questions regarding your treatment or illness, do not hesitate to discuss these with your doctor or nurse.

For further information you can visit:

www.ialuril.co.uk

Alternatively you can contact Bladder Health UK, a patient support group for patients with cystitis and overactive bladder, on their national helpline (0121 702 0820) or visit their website:

www.bladderhealthuk.org