Interstitial cystitis: unexplained associations with other chronic disease and pain syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of concomitant disease in individuals with interstitial cystitis and to compare these results to the general population.


METHODS
We used a questionnaire-based study evaluating 12 disease processes and a survey of interstitial cystitis characteristics. The population was 2,405 individuals with interstitial cystitis who responded to the initial survey and an additional 277 individuals who were randomly selected and individually contacted.


RESULTS
Allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, and sensitive skin were the most common diseases in the interstitial cystitis population. In comparison to the general population, individuals with interstitial cystitis are 100 times more likely to have inflammatory bowel disease and 30 times more likely to have systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, sensitive skin, and fibromyalgia have an increased association with interstitial cystitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Interstitial cystitis has, as yet, an unexplained association with certain other chronic disease and pain syndromes.
Alagiri
M
M
Department of Urology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
Chottiner
S
S
Ratner
V
V
Slade
D
D
Hanno
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome