Interstitial cystitis in minority women.

A bladder disorder of unknown etiology, interstitial cystitis affects mainly women, and its prevalence may be increasing. Little information is available on the demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of interstitial cystitis in the minority population. This retrospective review of the patient database at the Interstitial Cystitis Center, New England Medical Center, identified 17 minority women among a total of 201 patients who satisfied the criteria of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. Minority women accounted for 8.5% of the patients, with 3% being African American; 3.5%, Hispanic American; and 2.0%, Asian American. The clinical and endoscopic findings as well as responses to treatment were similar in both the minority and nonminority populations. However, the average duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 2.9 years in the minority group, compared with an average of 13 months in the nonminority group. Minority women with interstitial cystitis appear to be symptomatic for longer periods before a definitive diagnosis is made. Their response to treatment parallels that of the nonminority population. Further studies are needed to address the natural history, urologic referral patterns, and treatment outcomes in minority women who have interstitial cystitis.