INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS - UNEXPLAINED ASSOCIATIONS WITH OTHER CHRONIC DISEASE AND PAIN SYNDROMES

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of concomitant disease in indi viduals with interstitiai cystitis and to compare these results to the general population. Methods. We used a questionnaire-based study eval uating 12 disease processes and a survey of interstitial cystitis char acteristics. The population was 2,405 individuals with interstitial cy stitis who responded to the initial survey and an additional 277 indiv iduals who were randomly selected and individually contacted. Results. Allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, and sensitive skin were the most : common diseases in the interstitial cystitis population. In comparis on to the general population, individuals with interstitial cystitis a re 100 times more likely to have inflammatory bowel disease and 30 tim es more likely to have systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, alle rgies, irritable bower syndrome, sensitive skin, and fibromyalgia have an increased association with interstitial cystitis. Conclusions. Int erstitial cystitis has, as yet, an unexplained association with certai n other chronic disease and pain syndromes. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Scien ce Inc.