Clastogenic activity in urine of individuals with urinary bladder infections

The object of this study was to determine whether an elevation in chromosome-damaging (clastogenic) activity occurred in the urine of individuals with bladder infections. Urine samples were collected from 18 patients with chronic (long-term) bladder infections (CBI). Organic material was extracted from urine by preparative reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and assayed for chromosome-damaging activity in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell cultures. Clastogenic activity was present in these urine extracts at levels significantly above those observed in control individuals (P less than 0.001). These levels were comparable to those observed in smoker's urine. In addition, 2 of 4 individuals with acute (short-term) bladder infection (ABI) showed a significant elevation in clastogenic activity in their urine samples (P = 0.025). This study indicates that clastogenic components can be produced during bacterial infections in the urinary bladder and supports a direct involvement of urinary tract infections in the development of bladder cancer.