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Lower Urinary Tract Tests Could Help Distinguish IC/BPS From Overactive Bladder
Shim JS, Kang SG, Park JY, Bae JH, Kang SH, Park HS, Moon DG, Cheon J, Lee JG, Kim JJ, Oh MM. Differences in Urodynamic Parameters between Women with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome and Severe Overactive Bladder. Urology. 2016 Apr 26. pii: S0090-4295(16)30113-3. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2016.04.018. [Epub ahead of print]
Investigators in this study sought to determine whether specific diagnostic tests of the bladder could be used to help diagnose patients with urinary symptoms, and in particular, determine whether the underlying cause is interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) or severe overactive bladder (OAB). To test this, they conducted a study of 52 female outpatients with a clear diagnosis of either IC/BPS (24 patients) or severe OAB (28 patients). In particular, they looked at bladder capacity measurements using a diagnostic procedure called cystometry, and found that women with OAB had significantly higher bladder volumes than women with IC/BPS at various time points (e.g., time of normal desire, strong desire, and maximal capacity). Other urodynamic studies also pointed out key differences in measurements between the two groups that could potentially help specialists distinguish between IC/BPS and OAB.