Mixed connective tissue disease following interstitial cystitis

A 64-year-old woman complained of severe infrapubic pain and pollakisuria w ith nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but with normal urinalysis since 1987. T he clinical diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) was made, and cystectom y was performed in 1996. The bladder taken was markedly shrunken with a cap acity of 50 ml, and showed bleeding on the mucosal surface. Histological fi ndings of the bladder showed ulcer formation in the mucous membrane, and ma rked infiltration of mononuclear cells, edema and fibrosis in the submucosa l tissue. She had noticed exudative erythema, swelling and sclerosis on the bilateral fingers and dorsal aspects of the hands since 1993, and Raynaud' s phenomenon and morning stiffness of the fingers from November, 1998. Labo ratory data showed positive anti-nuclear antibody (titer: 1. 2,540) and ant i-U1 RNP antibody (titer: 69.5 by ELISA). A diagnosis of mixed connective t issue disease following IC was made.