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A new direct test of bladder permeability.
D R Erickson1, N Herb, S Ordille
1Section of Urology, Departments of Surgery, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
The Journal of Urology
|July 14, 2000
Summary
A new bladder permeability test accurately identifies increased bladder permeability in interstitial cystitis patients. This safe and painless test uses sugar absorption to distinguish between healthy and compromised bladders.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Increased bladder permeability is a proposed cause of interstitial cystitis (IC).
- Direct testing for bladder permeability has been lacking.
- Bladder distention is known to temporarily increase permeability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a safe, relatively painless, direct test for bladder permeability.
- To validate the test in distinguishing intact bladders from those with increased permeability, specifically in interstitial cystitis patients.
Main Methods:
- Developed an intravesical test using lactulose and rhamnose sugars.
- Feasibility studies conducted in rabbits with intact and disrupted bladder epithelium.
- Human studies involved patients with interstitial cystitis immediately after bladder distention, measuring sugar absorption in blood serum.
Main Results:
- No sugar absorption from intact rabbit bladders; significant absorption from disrupted bladders.
- In humans, sugars were absorbed from interstitial cystitis bladders but not intact control bladders post-distention.
- Significantly greater rhamnose absorption in interstitial cystitis patients compared to controls (p = 0.008).
Conclusions:
- The developed test effectively distinguishes between intact and distended bladders.
- This novel permeability test can be utilized to assess for increased bladder permeability in interstitial cystitis.