Symptoms and cystoscopic findings in patients with untreated interstitial cystitis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationships between symptoms and cystoscopic findings in women newly diagnosed with interstitial cystitis who had not previously received treatment.


METHODS
Twelve newly diagnosed and not previously treated women with interstitial cystitis completed a bladder symptom questionnaire the day before undergoing cystoscopy, hydrodistension, and biopsy. The daily voiding frequency was reported. Cystoscopic findings were converted to a numerical scale, and the data were analyzed using Pearson correlations.


RESULTS
Pain symptoms had consistent positive correlations with the cystoscopic findings. An increase in pain with bladder filling was associated with inflammation (P = 0.011), ulceration, and smaller bladder capacity. Pain relief after voiding correlated with smaller bladder capacity (P = 0.019), hematuria, and total cystoscopic score. Pain intensity in the urethra was related to ulceration and hematuria, and pain in the lower abdomen was related to a smaller bladder capacity (P = 0.047), glomerulations, and a larger total cystoscopic score. Daytime frequency correlated negatively with most cystoscopic findings, and nocturnal frequency had a positive relationship with most cystoscopic findings and was significantly associated with a smaller bladder capacity (P = 0.010). Urgency showed no strong associations with any cystoscopic findings.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with untreated interstitial cystitis, a strong correlation between pain and cystoscopic findings was observed. The differences between our results and those of previous studies that found no relationship between symptom reports and cystoscopic findings suggest possible effects of treatment on pain perception and therapeutic influence on cystoscopic findings.
Lamale
Leah M
LM
Department of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1089, USA.
Lutgendorf
Susan K
SK
Hoffman
Anna N
AN
Kreder
Karl J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003558:Cystoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement