OBJECTIVE: Patients with interstitial cystitis, a chronic nonbacterial inflammation of the bladder, were investigated for the presence of systemic autoimmune diseases, in particular for Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: Ten patients were included in the study on the basis of a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis according to usual criteria. They underwent clinical and laboratory investigations including those for keratoconjunctivitis (KCS) and focal lymphocytic sialoadenitis (FLS). RESULTS: In 2 patients both KCS and FLS were present allowing the diagnosis of primary SS according to classification criteria. Additionally, in 6 patients one of the 2 hallmarks of primary SS was present, KCS in 3 and FLS in 3. CONCLUSION: Interstitial cystitis is a new example of a disease that occurs in association with SS, supporting the concept that interstitial cystitis is an autoimmune cystitis. The clinical relevance of the finding is that a high index of suspicion for SS is indicated in patients with interstitial cystitis.
OBJECTIVE:Patients with interstitial cystitis, a chronic nonbacterial inflammation of the bladder, were investigated for the presence of systemic autoimmune diseases, in particular for Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: Ten patients were included in the study on the basis of a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis according to usual criteria. They underwent clinical and laboratory investigations including those for keratoconjunctivitis (KCS) and focal lymphocytic sialoadenitis (FLS). RESULTS: In 2 patients both KCS and FLS were present allowing the diagnosis of primary SS according to classification criteria. Additionally, in 6 patients one of the 2 hallmarks of primary SS was present, KCS in 3 and FLS in 3. CONCLUSION:Interstitial cystitis is a new example of a disease that occurs in association with SS, supporting the concept that interstitial cystitis is an autoimmune cystitis. The clinical relevance of the finding is that a high index of suspicion for SS is indicated in patients with interstitial cystitis.