Serum 17β-Estradiol Concentrations in Women With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective
Tiberiu A Priporeanu1, Ion Petre2, Ramona E Dragomir3
1Doctoral School, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, ROU.
Introduction:
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a long-lasting, sterile inflammatory disease affecting the lower urinary tract, marked by pelvic pain, urgency, and nighttime urination (nocturia). The marked female predominance of IC/BPS has prompted interest in the potential role of endocrine factors in disease susceptibility and symptom variability. However, the relationship between circulating estrogen concentrations and IC/BPS remains incompletely understood, and clinical evidence has been inconsistent. This study aimed to characterize the baseline distribution of serum 17β-estradiol concentrations among women diagnosed with IC/BPS.
Methodology:
We conducted a retrospective, observational, single-center study of 195 women with a confirmed diagnosis of IC/BPS according to European Association of Urology (EAU) and American Urological Association (AUA) criteria. Serum 17β-estradiol concentrations obtained during the initial clinical evaluation were retrieved from medical records. Hormone concentrations were categorized using established physiological reference intervals, and descriptive statistics summarized the distribution of serum estradiol levels.
Results:
A total of 195 women were included in the study. Serum estradiol concentrations ranged from 3.1 to 712.7 pg/mL, with a median of 40.2 pg/mL and a mean of 68.7 ± 89.5 pg/mL. Overall, 109 patients (55.9%) had serum estradiol concentrations below 50 pg/mL, 43 (22.1%) between 51 and 100 pg/mL, 30 (15.4%) between 101 and 200 pg/mL, and 13 (6.6%) above 200 pg/mL.
Conclusions:
Low serum 17β-estradiol concentrations were frequently observed in this cohort of women with IC/BPS. Although these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that endocrine factors may contribute to disease heterogeneity, the retrospective observational design and the absence of a healthy control group preclude conclusions about causality or clinical application. Prospective longitudinal studies incorporating standardized hormone assessment, appropriate control groups, and adjustment for potential confounding variables are needed to clarify the role of circulating estradiol in IC/BPS.
