SELECTIVE TYPE-IV COLLAGEN DEFECTS IN THE UROTHELIAL BASEMENT-MEMBRANE IN INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS

Purpose: The study sought to identify changes in the urothelial basement membr Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical assessment of bladder biopsies from IC patients and controls was compared with clinical and histologic findings. Results: Selective decreases or loss of type TV collagen staining, but not laminin, were found in the UBM of 5 of II IC patients with no change in type IV collagen staining of other bladder wall sites. Conclusion: The loss of type IV collagen may represent a primary or secondary event and could alter the UBM's role in permeability, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis ofIC in the subset of IC patients exhibiting this change.