Interstitial Cystitis is painful and uncomfortable, and often misdiagnosed. Because of the symptoms, people who have Interstitial Cystitis, or IC, are often diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, bladder infections, or kidney infections. Symptoms of IC include bladder frequency and urgency, pelvic pain and irritation, and in women, pain may be worse around menstruation. Pain can range from being mild to so severe that it is debilitating. IC is usually divided into two subtypes - classic and non-ulcer.
It is unknown what causes IC, however tests are being done that question whether IC is a single condition, or if it represents a spectrum of other disorders. Not so long ago, it was believed that IC was a psychological problem and that the symptoms were a manifestation of this. That belief left people, especially women, confused and wondering whether they were imagining their symptoms or not. Thankfully, new research is being done to address the causes of IC, the symptoms, and whether it is an autoimmune disease. Some doctors and researchers believe IC may be an autoimmune disease, or that IC represents several different disorders.
DISEASE
Several recent tests have been done in patients with classic and non-ulcer IC. Reports show autoantibodies in patients with IC, and some clinical findings also show similarities with those that show up in patients with autoimmune disorders. IC has also been shown to be associated with some autoimmune disorders. Some of these include Systemic Lupus, Lupus Erythematosus, Sjogrens syndrome, and autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland. What all of this means in simple terms is that systematic and autoimmune disorders show up more in people who have IC than in people who don't.
When our body encounters something foreign, it responds by mounting an attack on the object. In order for our body to do this, it has to recognize that the object is foreign, and not part of itself. Usually, the body recognizes what is and what is not 'self.' In autoimmune diseases, the body is unable to recognize some part of itself, and will attack it. This could happen with one organ, a particular part of the body, or the entire body.
So, what is the answer to the question, Is Interstitial Cystitis an autoimmune disease? Well, frankly, we just don't know. However, research studies may be pointing to the affirmative, or at the very least that it is definitely somehow connected. Until further research is completed, we won't have the answer to our questions. The good thing is that now doctors see that IC is definitely a physical medical problem, and hopefully research will continue and we will have an answer soon.
Is Interstitial Cystitis an Autoimmune Disease? DISEASE
No comments:
Post a Comment