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Heparin bladder rinse may cut recurrent UTIs in women
NCT ID NCT02246270
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tested whether putting heparin directly into the bladder can reduce the number of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women who get them often. 34 women with recurrent UTIs received either heparin or a placebo (saline) bladder wash. The study measured how many UTIs they had over 6 months and how long it took for another infection to occur.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Heparin (bladder instillation)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new option to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small trial with only 34 participants. The results may not apply to everyone, and heparin's effectiveness is not yet proven.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
-
34 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Nov 2017
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 85 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged 18-85 with history of recurrent urinary tract infections. * Definition of Recurrent UTI: if experienced either more than 3 symptomatic UTI episodes in the past year (including the index infection) or 2 such episodes in the past 6 months. * Definition of UTI: \>103 cfu/mL of a uropathogen in midstream urine culture from a woman experiencing more than 2 symptoms of cystitis (dysuria, urgency, frequency, suprapubic pain, or hematuria) or, in the absence of a culture, demonstration of pyuria on urinalysis and more than 2 urinary symptoms, as well as complete and rapid resolution of symptoms in response to antibiotic therapy for UTI. Exclusion Criteria: * Taking any anticoagulant such as warfarin sodium, heparin * Taking any thrombolytic agent such as a tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase * Known aneurysm, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic disease, hemophilia, gastrointestinal ulceration, polyps, or diverticula * Known hypersensitivity to heparin * History of, or currently has neurogenic bladder, pelvic irradiation or chemical cystitis * Presence of urethral, pelvic, or rectal carcinoma, Benign or malignant bladder tumors * Tuberculous cystitis, urinary schistosomiasis * Bladder or ureteral calculi, urethral or bladder obstruction, augmentation cystoplasty, cystectomy, supratrigonal denervation of the bladder (cystolysis), neurectomy, or implanted peripheral nerve stimulator that has affected bladder function; Microscopic hematuria as defined as \> 5 red blood cells (RBC) /high power field at baseline visit without a negative workup within the last year * Positive pregnancy test at the baseline visit, are pregnant or lactating, or are planning to become pregnant during the study period * Have history of uterine, cervical or vaginal cancer during the past 3 years * Clinically significant vaginitis at baseline visit
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa OB/GYN Dept and OU-Physicians
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74135, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Gut bacteria transplant shows promise for recurring UTIs
- Gum treatment may lower prostate inflammation and UTI risk
- Should you remove kidney stones to stop UTIs? study seeks answers
- Sugar pill may stop recurrent UTIs without antibiotics
- UTI lab results may worsen emotional distress in women