Interstitial Cystitis: Test and Diagnosis

1st order laboratory parameters – obligatory laboratory tests.

  • Urine status (rapid test for: pH, leukocytes, nitrite, protein, glucose, blood), sediment.
  • Urine cytology – in the case of sterile leukocyturia (excretion of white blood cells with urine without the presence of urinary tract infection) and / or microhematuria (presence of blood in the urine (hematuria), which can be detected microscopically or by means of test strips (Sangur test )).
  • Urine and serum markers
    • APF (“antiproliferative factor”) – produced in the bladder and found almost exclusively in the urine of people with interstitial cystitis; APF probably blocks the physiological growth of cells of the bladder inner wall
    • NGF (“nerve growth factor”/nerve growth factor).
    • IL (interleukin)-6 [↑] – regulates inflammatory responses.
    • TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) [↑]
  • Molecular diagnostics – detection of specific cell proteins.
  • Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or PCT (procalcitonin).
  • Biopsy (tissue sample) of the bladder wall – to detect mast cells [↑]

Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, etc. – for differential diagnostic clarification.

  • Urine culture (pathogen detection and resistogram (testing of appropriate antibiotics for sensitivity / resistance) – to exclude infectionMan: midstream urine; woman: catheter urine.
  • Small blood count
  • Fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose; fasting blood glucose).
  • PSA (prostate-specific antigen)
  • If necessary, exclusion of a venereal disease (infections transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse) – in cystitis with adnexitis (inflammation of the fallopian tube and ovary), colpitis (vaginitis), prostatitis (prostatitis).