Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is an inflammatory bladder syndrome characterized by chronic pain in the bladder, severe and of unknown cause (diagnosis excludes any known etiology) [2]. It is often associated with urinary frequency (92%), urgency (92%), painful urination (70%), and nocturia (nocturia), while urine cultures are sterile. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis may overlap with other symptoms of abnormal bladder function [3]: such as urinary tract infection, overactive bladder syndrome, ureteritis, urethral syndrome, and prostatitis. The syndrome often causes great suffering to patients and severely reduces the quality of life as much as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic cancer pain or kidney dialysis. The results of the various treatments applied to date, including cystectomy, have been less than satisfactory. Diagnosis: The diagnosis of C/BPS is a process of exclusion based on clinical symptoms. The American UrologicalAssociation (AUA) guidelines recommend a careful history, physical examination and laboratory tests to assess IC/BPS symptoms and other potential abnormalities [1]. the KCl test, also known as the potassium sensitivity test, is no longer recommended. In complex cases, a cystoscopic bladder irrigation distention (hydrodistention) test is helpful for diagnosis, but the test is not specific for IC/BPS and the test itself may result in bladder blebs (glomerulations) similar to IC/BPS. Therefore, the diagnosis of IC/BPS relies mainly on exclusionary methods.
Treatment of the disease is mainly by medication, diet, psychological modification or surgery.