[Interstitial cystitis--etiology and diagnosis]

Though a hundred years have elapsed since the first presentation of interstitial cystitis as a separate clinical entity, many relating questions have still remained unanswered. Numerous etiological factors such as ischaemia, chronic infection, neurological and recently immunological factors have been connected with the disease as its possible causes. The incidence of the disease is regularly underestimated or overestimated. Sixty-one patients with chronic relapsing cystitis have been evaluated. The parameters which could help in promptly establishing a reliable diagnosis are pointed out in this paper.