Leukocyte populations in interstitial cystitis and idiopathic reduced bladder storage

Validation of voiding diary for stratification of bladder pain syndrome according to the presence/absence of cystoscopic abnormalities: a two-centre prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of the voiding diary in the management of patients with bladder pain syndrome for predicting the presence or absence of cystoscopic abnormalities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From November 2009 to March 2011, 54 consecutive patients (39 women and 15 men) with bladder pain syndrome, as defined by the European Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (ESSIC) criteria, were prospectively enrolled in this two-centre study. All patients completed a home voiding diary on 3 consecutive days, which included analysis of voiding frequency, voided volume and severity of pre- and post-voiding pain. The variables were evaluated on a numeric pain scale (NPS). All patients then underwent standardized cystoscopy under anaesthesia. Patients were stratified into two groups: a group with or a group without cystoscopic abnormalities. Voiding diary variables were compared using Student's t-test.

RESULTS

Cystoscopic abnormalities were found in 33 patients. The group of patients with cystoscopic abnormalities had significantly more severe frequency (P = 0.034), especially nocturnal frequency (P = 0.009), a significantly lower mean voiding volume and lower sd from the mean (P = 0.011 and P = 0.014), and a significantly lower mean post-voiding NPS score (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

On analysis of the voiding diaries, we found that different patient profiles were associated with the cystoscopic appearance of the bladder. A clinical voiding score was proposed to predict the cystoscopic appearance of the bladder on the basis of the voiding diary in bladder pain syndrome but needs to be validated on an independent population.

Hydrodistension under local anesthesia for patients with suspected painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: safety, diagnostic potential and therapeutic efficacy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety, diagnostic potential and therapeutic efficacy of cystoscopy with hydrodistension under local anesthesia in patients with suspected painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC).

METHODS

Thirty-six patients with frequency, urgency or bladder pain for > or = 6 months and an average voided volume of <200 mL were enrolled in the study. Hydrodistension was carried out 10 min after instillation of 10 mL of 4% lidocaine. The instilled saline volume for hydrodistension was determined based on each patient's level of tolerance of urinary sensation and symptoms.

RESULTS

Overall, 30 patients (median age 54 years, range 25-76) were evaluated. The median instilled saline volume was 450 mL (250 to 580 mL). No patients were admitted to hospital due to adverse events associated with hydrodistension. Glomerulation was found in 23 patients and two had Hunner's ulcers. Therapeutic efficacy at one month after hydrodistension was shown in 21/30 patients (71%). A median efficacy period of 20 + or = 3.7 weeks was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Factors with an independent influence on therapeutic efficacy of hydrodistension were not identified, but patients with an instilled volume greater than the median volume had significantly longer efficacy periods (P < 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Cystoscopy with hydrodistension under local anesthesia provides a simple and safe method for differential diagnosis and has some therapeutic efficacy in patients with suspected PBS/IC.

Using the International Continence Society's definition of painful bladder syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To determine what proportion of patients with recent-onset interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome (PBS) met the International Continence Society (ICS) definition and how those who met the definition differed from those who did not.

METHODS

We recruited women who had recent-onset IC/PBS for an ongoing case-control study to identify its risk factors and studied our first 138 eligible patients to identify those who met the ICS definition. We then compared those who met the definition with those who did not by variables acquired from interviews and medical records.

RESULTS

The 138 participants had intensities of pain, urgency, frequency, and nocturia, as well as O'Leary-Sant Symptom Index scores, similar to those of previously reported patients with IC/PBS. Six percent of cystoscopies demonstrated Hunner's ulcers, and 89% of hydrodistensions under anesthesia revealed glomerulations. The most liberal interpretation of the ICS definition did not include 47 (34%) of our patients. Comparing these with the 91 (66%) who did meet the ICS criteria, we found that 96 of 97 clinical variables, including many generally thought to be characteristic of IC/PBS, were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The ICS definition identified only 91 (66%) of the 138 patients whom study investigators and caregivers diagnosed as having IC/PBS. Furthermore, those who met the ICS definition did not differ in important ways from those who did not. These observations taken together suggest that the ICS definition may not be sufficiently sensitive. Minor modifications of the definition appeared to increase its sensitivity. Validation of a case definition (ie, assessing its sensitivity and specificity) would require testing it in patients with IC/PBS, as well as in patients with other diseases with similar symptoms.

Is sensory urgency part of the same spectrum of bladder dysfunction as detrusor overactivity?

It has been suggested that the urogynecological diagnosis of sensory urgency is an early form of detrusor overactivity and may be just earlier in the spectrum of disease. The former term is generally defined as increased perceived bladder sensation during filling, a low first desire to void and low bladder capacity in the absence of recorded urinary tract infection (UTI) or detrusor overactivity. The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence and associations of sensory urgency in comparison with detrusor overactivity, and whether sensory urgency is shown to be in the same spectrum of bladder dysfunction as detrusor overactivity. Five hundred and ninety-two women attending for an initial urogynecological/urodynamic assessment took part in this prospective study. In addition to a full clinical assessment, all women underwent free uroflowmetry, residual urine volume measurement (by vaginal ultrasound) and multichannel filling and voiding cystometry. Data were separated into those having (1) sensory urgency or (2) detrusor overactivity. Apart from prevalence figures, comparative associations were sought for (3) age; (4) parity; (5) presenting symptoms; (6) presence of at least one (medically) documented UTI in the previous 12 months; (7) two or more (recurrent) documented UTIs in the previous 12 months; (8) prior hysterectomy; (9) prior continence surgery; (10) menopause; (11) menopause and HRT use; (12) sign of clinical stress leakage; (13) retroverted uterus; (14) anterior vaginal wall prolapse; (15) uterine prolapse; (16) posterior vaginal wall prolapse; (17) apical vaginal prolapse; (18, 19) maximum, average urine flow rate (MUFR, AUFR) centiles, Liverpool Nomograms; (20) median residual urine volume (RUV) in milliliters; (21, 22) voiding difficulty: VD1,VD2 (MUFR, AUFR under 10th centile Liverpool Nomogram and/or RUV >30 ml); (23) diagnosis of urodynamic stress incontinence and (24) diagnosis of uterine and/or vaginal prolapse (grade >0). The prevalence of sensory urgency was 13%. The only differences in the clinical and urodynamic profiles of it and detrusor overactivity were (1) significantly increased prevalence of the symptom of urge incontinence and (2) (by definition) abnormal detrusor contractions during filling cystometry in women with detrusor overactivity. Overall, sensory urgency and detrusor overactivity appear to be part of the same spectrum of bladder dysfunction.

Interstitial cystitis in the UK: results of a questionnaire survey of members of the Interstitial Cystitis Support Group

PURPOSE

To examine the site, severity, and duration, of symptoms in patients with interstitial cystitis. To examine the treatments offered.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Postal questionnaire administered to members of the Interstitial Cystitis Support Group, based in the United Kingdom.

RESULTS

736 of 1148 (64%) questionnaires were returned. 696 (94.6%) patients were women. 471 patients (64%) described daily pain when symptoms were at their worst, and 273 (37%) described daily pain at the time of survey. Most patients reported frequency, urgency and nocturia. A wide range of treatments had been offered, but drugs of proven efficacy were offered to less than a third of patients: cimetidine (36%); antihistamines (5%); pentosan polysulphate (12%); DMSO (33%); and anticonvulsants (2%). 495 patients (67%) reported "considerable impact" or more on their lifestyle and 346 (46%) reported moderate depression or worse. 364 (49%) reported at least considerable difficulties with sexual intercourse.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey supports the work of others about the nature of symptoms and their impact upon quality of life. The data highlight the continuing difficulty in making a prompt diagnosis. We recommend that a European survey or registry of interstitial cystitis patients would help to establish a minimum standard of care. A suggested treatment algorithm is provided.