Dysuria at onset of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome in women

In an ongoing national study of women to identify risk factors for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), dysuria was identified at the onset of IC/PBS in a small majority and the evidence for urinary tract infection was evaluated.

In women with IC/PBS of 12 months' duration or less, symptoms and pertinent laboratory tests at onset were assessed by telephone interview and medical record review.

Of 138 women, 75 (54%) reported that they had started to experience burning or pain on urination at the onset of IC/PBS. Of those with urine cultures, 12 (34%) of 35 women with dysuria versus 1 (5%) of 21 without dysuria yielded a uropathogen (P = 0.01). Similarly, the microscopic white blood cell count and dipstick nitrites and leukocyte esterase were each significantly more common in the urine samples of those with dysuria than in those without. Additionally, 7 of 75 of those with dysuria versus 1 of 62 without dysuria reported chills or fever at the onset of IC/PBS. Using various definitions, the prevalence of urinary tract infection at the onset of IC/PBS, at a minimum, was 16% to 33% of those with dysuria versus less than 2% of those without dysuria (P < or = 0.003).

A slight majority of women with IC/PBS reported dysuria at onset of their IC/PBS symptoms. The available laboratory data have suggested that dysuria may be a sensitive indicator of urinary tract infection at the onset of IC/PBS; however, its specificity is as yet undetermined.