GLOMERULI IN WOMEN WITH URETHRAL SPHINCTER DEFICIENCY - REPORT OF 2 CASES

A classic feature of interstitial cystitis is the development of glome ruli during bladder distention while the patient is under anesthesia, which is thought to be a sign that the bladder was chronically under f illed before distention. The cause for under filling is pain or sensor y urgency in interstitial cystitis, and glomeruli have also been assoc iated with conditions of decreased functional bladder capacity. Two ca ses of bladder glomeruli associated with severe intrinsic urethral sph incter deficiency (type 3 incontinence) are reported. Neither patient had symptoms of interstitial cystitis before or after anti-incontinenc e surgery. A likely explanation is that severe stress incontinence chr onically prevented the bladder from filling to capacity before cystosc opy. Thus, these cases support the premise that glomeruli are a respon se to distending a previously under filled bladder.