A total of 25 patients with the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) were involved in this study. All patients had been previously diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and had received treatment with single intravesical agents. Patients were divided into two groups according to their bladder capacity. The bladder capacity was >350 ml in group I patients and <350 ml="" in="" group="" ii="" patients.="" for="" our="" study,="" dimethylsulfoxide="" (dmso),="" methylprednisolone,="" and="" heparin="" sulfate="" were="" given="" every="" week="" for="" a="" total="" of="" 6="" weeks.="" when="" symptoms="" recurred,="" supportive="" oral="" pharmacotherapy="" consisting="" of="" anticholinergics="" and/or="" tricyclic="" antidepressants="" was="" given.="" under="" anesthesia,="" patients="" in="" group="" i="" showed="" a="" 99%="" increase="" in="" their="" bladder="" capacity;="" whereas="" those="" in="" group="" ii="" showed="" an="" increase="" of="" only="" 19%.="" cystoscopically,="" hunner's="" ulcers="" were="" present="" in="" 60%="" of="" the="" group="" ii="" patients="" but="" were="" seen="" in="" only="" 5%="" of="" the="" group="" i="" patients.="" histopathological="" examination="" showed="" that="" the="" inflammatory="" changes="" were="" more="" frequent="" and="" severe="" in="" group="" ii="" than="" in="" group="" i.="" mast-cell="" hyperplasia="" was="" present="" in="" 100%="" of="" the="" patients="" in="" group="" ii,="" versus="" only="" 61%="" of="" those="" in="" group="" i.="" a="" total="" of="" 23="" patients="" (92%)="" achieved="" an="" initial="" remission="" averaging="" 8.1="" months.="" in="" all,="" 9="" patients="" (35%)="" had="" 1="" or="" more="" relapses,="" and="" all="" achieved="" a="" subsequent="" remission="" averaging="" 8="" months.="" by="" this="" combined="" multiagent="" approach,="" the="" majority="" of="" patients="" with="" ic="" obtained="" relief="" from="" their="" incapacitating="" symptoms="" and="" were="" socially="">