An improved method of treating lower urinary dysfunctional epithelium (LUDE) or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE, including interstitial cystitis, comprises the step of administering orally a pharmaceutically effective quantity of heparin to a patient in need of treatment for LUDE or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE in order to treat LUDE or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE. The heparin can be administered together with a quantity of a penetration enhancer that is sufficient to result in a tissue concentration of heparin that is sufficient to treat LUDE or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE. A suitable penetration enhancer is sodium N-[8-(2- hydroxybenzoyl)amino]caprylate. The method can further comprise the administration of at least one additional pharmaceutical composition to treat LUDE or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE The invention further includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising: (1) a quantity of heparin that is pharmaceutically sufficient for the treatment of LUDE or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE and (b) at least one filler, excipient, or carrier wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for the treatment of LUDE or a disease, condition, or syndrome associated with LUDE.La présente invention concerne un procédé amélioré de traitement du dysfonctionnement de lépithélium du bas appareil urinaire (LUDE) ou dune maladie, dun état pathologique, ou dun syndrome associé au LUDE, y compris la cystopathie interstitielle, comprenant létape consistant à administrer de manière orale une quantité pharmaceutiquement efficace dhéparine à un patient qui a besoin dun traitement pour le LUDE ou une maladie, un état pathologique, ou un syndrome associé au LUDE afin de traiter le LUDE ou une maladie, un état pathologique, ou un syndrome associé au LUDE. Lhéparine peut être administrée conjointement à une quantité dun agent amé
