title: Interstitial cystitis and bladder mastocytosis in a woman with chronic urticaria.
abstract: A patient with chronic urticaria and angioedema developed endoscopically confirmed interstitial cystitis. Bladder biopsy revealed bladder mastocytosis with > 60 mast cells/mm2 (normal < 10) in the detrusor and submucosa. Most of the mast cells were activated and degranulated. The occurrence of IC in a patient with urticaria and angioedema, diseases both associated with mast cell pathophysiology, supports the role of mast cells in interstitial cystitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tufts University School of Medicine, New England Medical Center Hospitals, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sant
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Letourneau
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gelfand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000473:pathology*