Urogenital reactions
Few urogenital reactions were described ( Table 6 and Table 7). Hemoglobinuria was described as an adverse reaction seen after transfusion of stem cell products 39, 51, 56, 73. However, hemoglobinuria is often attributed to erythrocyte debris in the transplant material and has thus not been interpreted as being caused by DMSO 39, 73. The other urogenital reactions ( Table 6 and Table 7) all occurred after DMSO instillation in the bladder 38, 49, 97.
Table 6.  Neurological and urogenital adverse reactions observed per number of patients.
Adverse reaction  Studies  Total patients, n  Patients with adverse reactions, n (%)  (min%–max%) †
Neurological
   Headache  [ 2, 18, 29, 33, 38, 41, 55, 59, 70, 71, 81, 84, 85, 98, 101, 104, 116]  2516  150 (6)  (1–50) [ 101] - [ 70]
  Intravenous administration  [ 18, 33, 41, 59, 70, 71, 81, 85, 98, 101, 104]  1271  42 (3)  (1–50) [ 101] - [ 70]
  Transdermal application  [ 2, 29, 55]  1197  102 (8)  (5–35) [ 55] - [ 2]
  Intravesical administration  [ 38]  20  1 (5)
  Rectal administration  [ 116]  21  3 (14)
  >1 administration route  [ 84]  7  2 (29)
   Seizures  [ 18, 36, 47]  301  2 (1)  (0–2) [ 18] - [ 47]
   Neurological symptoms,  unspecified  [ 86]  144  5 (3)
   Transient CN III and IV palsy  [ 34]  12  1 (8)
   Severe encephalopathy  [ 99]  124  1 (1)
Urogenital
   Pelvic discomfort/pain/  irritation  [ 38, 49, 97]  107  10 (9)  (6–30) [ 49] - [ 38]
   Dysuria/strangury  [ 49]  36  6 (17)
   Renal and urinary disorder  [ 49]  36  8 (22)
†Incidences of the adverse reactions have been calculated for all the individual studies. (min%–max%) are the lowest and highest observed incidence of an adverse reaction observed in the group of studies included.
Table 7.  Neurological and urogenital adverse reactions observed per number of treatments.
Adverse reaction  Studies  Total treatments, n  Adverse reactions observed, n (%)  (min%–max%) †
Neurological
   Headache  [ 39, 51]  86  40 (47)  (6 - 73) [ 39] - [ 51]
Urogenital
   Urethral irritation  [ 73]  151  110 (73)
†Incidences of the adverse reactions have been calculated for all the individual studies. (%, min-max) are the lowest and highest observed incidence of an adverse reaction observed in the group of studies included.