iAluril®
What is iAluRil®?
iAluRil® is a medical device, developed for the temporary replacement of a protective lining in your bladder termed the Glycosaminoglycan, or GAG layer. iAluRil® is made up of two of the component parts of this lining, Hyaluronic Acid (1.6% w/v) and Chondroitin Sulphate (2.0% w/v), both of which are also found naturally in many other parts of your body including the skin, eye fluid, heart valves and joints.
What does iAluRil® do?
iAluRil® works by replenishing two of the most important GAG molecules that your bladder needs to function properly; Hyaluronic Acid and Chondroitin Sulphate. The Hyaluronic Acid molecule forms the core building block of your GAG layer, onto which everything else can attach. The Chondroitin Sulphate component of iAluRil® is the most abundantly found of all the naturally occurring GAG molecules and as such iAluRil® provides the body with all that it needs to quickly re-establish a working protective layer.
How is iAluRil® administered?
iAluRil® is instilled directly into your bladder via a catheter. The procedure is relatively painless and will be performed by your Urologist or Urology Nurse. It will usually require that you attend the outpatient clinic at your local hospital, although self catheterisation can easily be learnt with time. iAluRil® is non-toxic and so following administration in the clinic setting, it is not always necessary to remain in the hospital until such time as the product is voided.
How long do I need treatment for?
iAluRil® treatment usually begins with weekly instillations for the first month. Following this initial course, the instillations will then usually be spaced out so that you should receive an instillation every two weeks for the second month followed by one instillation a month. Ideally iAluRil® treatment should be continued until your symptoms have resolved to the satisfaction of both you and your Urologist, however as every patient experiences the disease differently, time to symptom improvement and levels of response can vary. Doses may be spaced to suit the patient’s individual requirements and the initial course may be repeated if a flare-up occurs.
Does iAluRil® have any side-effects?
The individual components of iAluRil® are found naturally in your body and as such it is extremely unlikely that the product will cause any side-effects. Studies using these component molecules have shown that both are very well tolerated and cause few, if any, adverse reactions. Occasionally, the instillation process can cause some local irritation but this is down to the procedure rather than the product itself.
How do I obtain treatment with iAluRil®?
iAluRil® requires administration by qualified medical personnel. Please discuss with your urologist whether or not iAluRil® is appropriate for your condition.
