ABSTRACT
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic disease of as yet unknown etiology. The lack of a universally accepted definition and the fact that this syndrome does not represent one well-defined entity has recently favored the use of bladder pain syndrome (BPS) as a general term, the denomination IC preferably to be reserved for cases with cystoscopically and/or histologically defined findings (1-4). (See also glossary in Chapter 1.) BPS/IC commonly affects females, presenting with symptoms of pain on bladder filling and urinary frequency. Since the etiologies and pathophysiologies of the various syndromes included under the umbrella term BPS are largely unknown, treatment has had to be founded on a trial and error principle. The symptom complex includes two separate entities, the classic Hunner-type of disease, displaying a genuine and characteristic inflammatory bladder wall reaction as seen in the cystoscope, as well as histologically, and a less well-defined subtype that has been denominated non-ulcer IC (Figs. 1-3) (5-8). Various hypotheses to explain BPS/IC and, in consequence, numerous treatment modalities have been presented, including measures as different as hydrodistension of the bladder, intravesical instillation therapy, varying oral medications, electrical stimulation techniques, transurethral resection of diseased bladder tissue, supratrigonal cystectomy with enterocystoplasty and urinary diversion.
