Potassium sensitivity test.

Intravesical potassium sensitivity can readily elicit abnormal epithelial permeability responses in subjects with diseased bladder, primarily interstitial cystitis. The technique involves eliciting responses in each subject to 40 cc of plain water or 40 cc of potassium chloride solution (40 mEq per 100 cc water). The subjects are asked to rate their subjective responses 3-5 minutes after instillation of the test solution and told to compare the water and potassium. An abnormal provocation to potassium but not water is considered a positive response and a useful way to delineate people with epithelial dysfunction and loss of permeability control. On the other hand, normal subjects will not respond to either the water or potassium.