[Physiopathologic relationship between interstitial cystitis and rheumatic, autoimmune, and chronic inflammatory diseases].
Lorenzo Gómez, María Fernanda, Gómez Castro, Susana·Archivos espanoles de urologia·2004
This review examined whether interstitial cystitis (a chronic bladder pain condition) shares common causes with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases like lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Researchers found that many patients with these conditions have similar symptoms and immune system abnormalities, and that some interstitial cystitis patients improve with anti-inflammatory medications. The study suggests these disorders may share underlying mechanisms, though the exact causes remain unknown.