Mesna compared with continuous bladder irrigation as uroprotection during high-dose chemotherapy and transplantation: a randomized trial.

PURPOSE

To compare the use of intravenous (IV) hydration plus either continuous bladder irrigation or mesna for the prevention of hemorrhagic cystitis in the bone marrow transplant setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred patients were prospectively randomized to receive either continuous bladder irrigation with 200 mL/h of normal saline, or continuous infusion mesna at 100% of the cyclophosphamide dose.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of hematuria of any grade was significantly higher in the bladder-irrigation group (76%) compared with the mesna group (53%) (P = .007). However, the incidence of grade III and IV hematuria was the same in both groups (18%; P = NS). Moderate or severe discomfort or bladder spasms were reported in 84% of the patients who received bladder irrigation, compared with 2% of the patients who received mesna prophylaxis (P < .0001). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were documented in 27% of the patients in the bladder-irrigation group, compared with 14% of the patients in the mesna group (P = .03).

CONCLUSION

Both continuous bladder irrigation and mesna were equally effective in preventing severe hemorrhagic cystitis associated with high-dose cyclophosphamide and bone marrow transplantation. However, the use of mesna was associated with significantly less discomfort and a lower incidence of UTIs.