title: Global concepts of bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bladder pain syndrome (BPS), commonly referred to as "interstitial cystitis", is no longer considered a rare disorder. It may affect up to 2.7% of the adult female population (Ueda et al. in Int J Urol 10:1-70, 2003) with up to 20% of cases occurring in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  The last two decades have seen a worldwide effort to try to standardize its nomenclature, definition, diagnosis, and treatment algorithm. The literature has been reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this article, we will detail current terminology, diagnostic approaches and treatment. Standard therapies will be discussed, and a section that concentrates on the management of the subset of patients with a Hunner's lesion will be highlighted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BPS is today viewed through a new paradigm. It is no longer considered primarily a bladder disease, but rather one of a number of chronic pain syndromes that is distinguished by being manifest through bladder-related symptoms. A distinct subgroup of patients with Hunner's lesion has specific characteristics, and successful treatment of this subgroup is available.
authors: University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. jnordling@dadlnet.dk
authors: Jørgen
authors: J
authors: Nordling
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Fall
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Hanno
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014944:World Health Organization