[Preventive treatment of recurrent essential cystitis in women. Comparative study of pipemidic acid and placebo in a daily dose of 200 mg. for 6 months].

Seventy female patients presenting with frequent (less than or equal to 4 episodes per year) recurrent essential cystitis participated in a comparative, double-blind placebo-controlled study of prophylactic treatment with Pipram. Treatment was administered at the dose of 200 mg in the evening at bedtime for 6 months, followed by a post-treatment phase of 6 months. Four episodes of cystitis occurred during the first 6 months in the Pipram group and 11 in the placebo group; a single episode of infection was observed in the placebo group over the entire observation period (1/2 year). The difference between the two groups, Pipram and placebo, was statistically significant at 6 months and at 1 year. The relative risk of infection in the placebo group was 3.02 at 6 months and 3.56 at 12 months. The bacteria responsible for reinfection during and after treatment were resistant to pipemidic acid in 2 out of 2 cases in the Pipram group and in 2 out of 7 cases in the placebo group. Treatment was well tolerated: 2 discontinuations of treatment because of benign side effects in the Pipram group.