[The role of allergy in interstitial cystitis]

In two women, aged 47 and 58 years, who suffered from longstanding urinary bladder complaints, various urologic treatments had been carried out, which however had had only a partial therapeutic effect. They also suffered from allergic rhinitis and multiple arthralgia. Allergologic investigations including nasal challenges with inhalant allergens and food ingestion challenges revealed the causative participation of the inhalant allergens and the food components in the urinary complaints. The all-round allergologic management, including dietary measures, avoidance of the relevant allergens and nasal as well as oral administration of disodium cromoglycate therapy, led to the almost complete disappearance of the urinary and other complaints. Interstitial cystitis is a regularly appearing urinary disorder, especially in female patients. In practice, the possible causative role of allergy and especially of food allergy is only rarely included in the differential diagnosis of this disorder.