Cytologic examination of urine from patients with interstitial cystitis

OBJECTIVE: To perform a cytologic examination of urine from patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). STUDY DESIGN: Patients included in this study fit the definition of IC established by the National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Cytologic material was identified by checking the pathology archives against medical record numbers of patients with biopsy-confirmed IC. Cytologic preparations included cytocentrifuge samples and filters. Representative material was submitted for toluidine blue staining. RESULTS: Thirty-three urine specimens from 14 patients with IC were included in the study. All urines showed acute inflammation, predominantly polymorphonuclear cells. Fourteen (42%) specimens contained eosinophils, and 10 (30%) contained cells resembling mast cells. Other findings included numerous degenerated cells, reactive transitional cells and hematuria. Toluidine blue staining of urine cytocentrifuge samples failed to demonstrate metachromatic staining of the presumed mast cells. DISCUSSION: Cytologic examination of urine from patients with IC showed consistent but nonetheless non-specific findings. The predominant characteristic was the presence of inflammatory cells, mostly neutrophils and occasionally eosinophils.