Interstitial Cystitis

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Overview

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder that causes frequent, urgent, and painful urination with or without pelvic discomfort. The natural lining of the bladder (epithelium) is protected from toxins in the urine by a coating of enzymes (mucopolysaccharides) called the GAG (glycoaminoglycan) layer.

In IC, this protective layer is defective, allowing toxins to penetrate into the "interstitial layers" of the bladder wall, depolarize the nerve e...Read the full article