Comparison of deep phenotyping features of UCPPS with and without Hunner lesion: A MAPP-II Research Network Study

This pain drives me crazy: Psychiatric symptoms in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

BACKGROUND

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is an at least 6-mo noninfectious bladder inflammation of unknown origin characterized by chronic suprapubic, abdominal, and/or pelvic pain. Although the term cystitis suggests an inflammatory or infectious origin, no definite cause has been identified. It occurs in both sexes, but women are twice as much affected.

AIM

To systematically review evidence of psychiatric/psychological changes in persons with IC/BPS.

METHODS

Hypothesizing that particular psychological characteristics could underpin IC/BPS, we investigated in three databases the presence of psychiatric symptoms and/or disorders and/or psychological characteristics in patients with IC/BPS using the following strategy: ("interstitial cystitis" OR "bladder pain syndrome") AND ("mood disorder" OR depressive OR antidepressant OR depression OR depressed OR hyperthymic OR mania OR manic OR rapid cycl^asterisk OR dysthymi^asterisk OR dysphori^asterisk).

RESULTS

On September 27, 2023, the PubMed search produced 223 articles, CINAHL 62, and the combined PsycLIT/ PsycARTICLES/PsycINFO/Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection search 36. Search on ClinicalTrials.gov produced 14 studies, of which none had available data. Eligible were peer-reviewed articles reporting psychiatric/psychological symptoms in patients with IC/BPS, i.e. 63 articles spanning from 2000 to October 2023. These studies identified depression and anxiety problems in the IC/BPS population, along with sleep problems and the tendency to catastrophizing.

CONCLUSION

Psychotherapies targeting catastrophizing and life stress emotional awareness and expression reduced perceived pain in women with IC/BPS. Such concepts should be considered when implementing treatments aimed at reducing IC/BPS-related pain.

Evaluation of Central Sensitisation in Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a debilitating condition characterised by exaggerated bladder sensations and altered bladder function. It is still unknown whether the condition is a peripheral sensory problem or due to abnormal central sensory processing as seen in central sensitisation. This systematic review, which followed a published and Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews-registered protocol (CRD42021229962), is aimed at establishing the scope of central sensitisation in patients with BPS to aid optimal management and treatment.

METHODS

Four databases were searched, and appraisal of the identified studies was conducted by two independent reviewers based on eligibility criteria: patients with BPS being investigated for central sensitisation with or without comparison of controls, English-language articles, full text and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The Methodological Index for non-Randomised Studies was used to determine study quality. We identified 763 papers in total, with 15 studies included in the final analysis. All studies were observational and had a low risk of bias. Measures included in the evaluation of CS were questionnaires, urodynamics, and quantitative sensory testing methods.

RESULTS

There was evidence of central sensitisation in patients with BPS in all papers evaluated (15 out of 15). In addition, more significant central sensitisation correlated with severe disease presentation (3 out of 3 papers) and concomitant chronic pain conditions (5 out of 5 papers).

CONCLUSIONS

Central sensitisation plays an integral role in BPS patient pathology. Many secondary measures are used to evaluate this condition. Stratification of patients based on their pathology (peripheral, central or a combination of the two) will aid in implementing an individualised management strategy.

Clinically Important Differences for Pain and Urinary Symptoms in Urological Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A MAPP Network Study

PURPOSE

Symptom heterogeneity in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, collectively termed urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome, has resulted in difficulty in defining appropriate clinical trial endpoints. We determine clinically important differences for 2 primary symptom measures, pelvic pain severity and urinary symptom severity, and evaluate subgroup differences.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain Symptom Patterns Study enrolled individuals with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We defined clinically important differences by associating changes in pelvic pain severity and urinary symptom severity over 3 to 6 months with marked improvement on a global response assessment using regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. We evaluated clinically important differences for absolute and percent change and examined differences in clinically important differences by sex-diagnosis, presence of Hunner lesions, pain type, pain widespreadness, and baseline symptom severity.

RESULTS

An absolute change of -4 was clinically important in pelvic pain severity among all patients, but clinically important difference estimates differed by pain type, presence of Hunner lesions, and baseline severity. Pelvic pain severity clinically important difference estimates for percent change were more consistent across subgroups and ranged from 30% to 57%. The absolute change urinary symptom severity clinically important difference was -3 for female participants and -2 for male participants with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome only. Patients with greater baseline severity required larger decreases in symptoms to feel improved. Estimated clinically important differences had lower accuracy among participants with low baseline symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

A reduction of 30%-50% in pelvic pain severity is a clinically meaningful endpoint for future therapeutic trials in urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Urinary symptom severity clinically important differences are more appropriately defined separately for male and female participants.

Stimulated whole-blood cytokine/chemokine responses are associated with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome phenotypes and features of nociplastic pain: a multidisciplinary approach to the study of chronic pelvic pain research network study

ABSTRACT

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a common and debilitating disease with poor treatment outcomes. Studies from the multidisciplinary approach to the study of chronic pelvic pain research network established that IC/BPS patients with chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) experience poorer quality of life and more severe symptoms, yet the neurobiological correlates of this subtype are largely unknown. We previously showed that ex vivo toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) cytokine/chemokine release is associated with the presence of COPCs, as well as widespread pain and experimental pain sensitivity women with IC/BPS. Here, we attempt to confirm these findings in the multisite multidisciplinary approach to the study of chronic pelvic pain Symptom Patterns Study using TLR4-stimulated whole blood (female IC/BPS patients with COPC n = 99; without n = 36). Samples were collected in tubes preloaded with TLR4 agonist, incubated for 24 hours, and resulting supernatant assayed for 7 cytokines/chemokines. These were subject to a principal components analysis and the resulting components used as dependent variables in general linear models. Controlling for patient age, body mass index, and site of collection, we found that greater ex vivo TLR4-stimulated cytokine/chemokine release was associated with the presence of COPCs ( P < 0.01), extent of widespread pain ( P < 0.05), but not experimental pain sensitivity ( P > 0.05). However, a second component of anti-inflammatory, regulatory, and chemotactic activity was associated with reduced pain sensitivity ( P < 0.01). These results confirm that the IC/BPS + COPCs subtype show higher levels of ex vivo TLR4 cytokine/chemokine release and support a link between immune priming and nociplastic pain in IC/BPS.

Reliability and Validity of Pain and Urinary Symptom Severity Assessment in Urological Chronic Pelvic Pain: A MAPP Network Analysis

PURPOSE

We assessed the reliability and validity of an efficient severity assessment for pelvic pain and urinary symptoms in urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which consists of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 578 patients were assessed using brief, empirically derived self-report scales for pelvic pain severity (PPS) and urinary symptom severity (USS) 4 times during a 1-month period and baseline clinic visit that included urological, pain and illness-impact measures. Mild, moderate and severe categories on each dimension were examined for measurement stability and construct validity.

RESULTS

PPS and USS severity categories had adequate reliability and both discriminant validity (differential relationships with specific clinical and self-report measures) and convergent validity (common association with nonurological somatic symptoms). For example, increasing PPS was associated with pelvic tenderness and widespread pelvic pain, whereas USS was associated with urgency during a bladder filling test and increased sensory sensitivity. PPS and USS categories were independently associated with nonurological pain and emotional distress. A descriptive analysis identified higher likelihood characteristics associated with having moderate to severe PPS or USS or both. Lack of sex interactions indicated that the measures are comparable in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

Women and men with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome can be reliably subgrouped using brief self-report measures of mild, moderate or severe pelvic pain and urinary symptoms. Comparisons with a broad range of clinical variables demonstrate the validity and potential clinical utility of these classifications, including use in clinical trials, health services and biological research.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy for Pain Management in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Proof-of-Concept Case Series

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy for symptom and pain management in women with non-bladder centric interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).

METHODS

Women with non-bladder centric IC/BPS and a numeric rating scale score for pelvic pain ≥6 underwent twice-daily 8-minute full body PEMF therapy sessions for 4 weeks. The primary outcome metric was a reduction in pelvic pain score ≥2 points. A 7-day voiding diary (collected at baseline and conclusion), 3 validated symptom scores, and the Short Form-36 Quality of Life questionnaire (completed at baseline, conclusion of treatment, and 8-week follow-up), were used to assess secondary outcomes. Treatment effects were analyzed via Wilcoxon-signed rank test; P < .05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The 4-week treatment protocol was completed by 8 of 10 enrolled patients, and 7:8 (87.5%) had a significant reduction in pelvic pain (-3.0 points, P = .011) after 4 weeks. There was also a significant decrease in scores on all validated IC/BPS questionnaires, daily number of voids, and nocturia symptom score (P < .05). Significant increases in several quality-of-life questionnaire sub-scores were also identified at 4 weeks (P < .05). At 8-week post-therapy, the positive effects were somewhat attenuated, yet 4:8 patients (50%) continued to have significant pain reduction (P = .047). No adverse events or side effects were reported.

CONCLUSION

Whole body pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is an alternative treatment option for women with chronic bladder pain syndrome that warrants investigation through comparative trials.