Mast Cells in Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract

Specific clinical criteria have been used to diagnose interstitial cystitis in 32 patients. The distribution of mast cells in biopsies of the bladder wall from these patients has been compared with that of similar cells in control specimens. A highly significant increase (P less than 0.001) in the number of mast cells within the detrusor muscle bundles has been demonstrated in 27 of these patients. This mast cell infiltration is widespread throughout the detrusor muscle and is not confined to the ulcerative lesions seen cystoscopically. Histological estimation of mast cells is of value, therefore, in establishing the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, and may be particularly helpful in equivocal cases. The relationship between mast cell infiltration of the detrusor muscle bundles and the aetiology of the disease remains to be determined.

The action of cysteinyl‐leukotrienes on intracellular calcium mobilization in human detrusor myocytes

“…Affected women are middle-aged, and have severe bladder pain and frequent nocturia, with up to several voids per hour [14]. The presence of inflammatory findings in bladder tissue suggests that inflammatory mediators are involved in the inflammation and pain that are part of IC [15,16]. The CysLTs C 4 and D 4 have been implicated as inflammatory mediators, mainly because of their vasoactive properties [7,12].…”

Interstitial cystitis is bladder pain syndrome with Hunner's lesion

“…Again, special interest has been devoted to the mast cell, supposed to be a major player in this disease complex, involving the diagnosis, development of symptoms and relationship to detrusor fibrosis, to give some examples. 15,17,25,26 Mast cells can be activated by a variety of agents, leading to release of a number of distinct inflammatory mediators, with or without degranulation. How these differential mast cell responses are controlled is still unresolved.…”

A 34‐year‐old woman with urinary frequency and suprapubic pain

“…Certainly, degranulated or activated mast cells are more common in IC than in other conditions. 7 It is likely that activated mast cells play an important role, but they are probably not the main cause in most patients. 8 One theory popularised by Parsons as a cause for IC is an alteration in the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer of the bladder, but the importance of this in most IC patients is unclear.…”