Increased Mast Cells of the Bladder in Suspected Cases of Interstitial Cystitis: A Possible Disease Marker

Abstract

Mast cells reportedly have been increased in the detrusor muscle bundles of the bladder in patients with interstitial cystitis. In 30 patients with suspected interstitial cystitis quantification of mast cells within the muscularis and submucosa was done. The results were compared to those obtained from a variety of normal bladder specimens reported surgically (16 specimens) and at autopsy (15), and from bladder with a variety of miscellaneous inflammatory conditions (20). In patients with suspected interstitial cystitis the number of mast cell was increased significantly (p less than 0.001) compared to the 3 control groups. This finding suggest that quantification of mast cells in the muscularis may be a useful marker in the histopathological evaluation of bladder biopsies in patients with suspected interstitial cystitis.