Inflammatory urological diseases
Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial Cystitis (IC), is a severe and debilitating inflammatory disease, one of the most challenging conditions known from the urology community.
Types of IC
Interstitial Cystitis, also know as Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS), is a chronic erosion of the bladder lining, exposing the bladder wall to irritation and inflammation. Associated with significant pain and urinary syndromes, IC can have a dramatic impact on quality of life.
There are two types of Interstitial Cystitis:
.01
Non-ulcerative: this is the case for up to approximately 80% of the population with Interstitial Cystitis appealing with a variety of manifestations of symptoms eg. burning pain, incontinence and/or glomerulizations.
.02
Ulcerative: about 15% to 20% of the population suffers from this form of Interstitial Cystitis. It is characterized mainly by Hunner ulcers and bleeding on the bladder walls.
Causes of the Interstitial Cystitis
The exact causes of Interstitial Cystitis are unknown, but researchers believe many factors are at play.
Factors that may contribute to the development of the disease include:
- Bladder trauma (as in pelvic surgery)
- Excessive bladder distension
- Pelvic floor muscledysfunction
- Auto-immune
- Chronic bacterial infection
- Primary neurogenic inflammation (hypersensitivity or inflammation of the pelvic nerves)
- Spinal cord injury
- Radiotherapies