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Small fiber polyneuropathy as a potential therapeutic target in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are frequently co-occurring medical diagnoses in patients referred to the urology clinic for secondary and tertiary treatment options.

Methods

Abundant literature has shown that many patients with FM have small fiber polyneuropathy (SFPN) that can be confirmed via skin punch biopsy and immunological staining to measure nerve density.

Results and conclusions

This finding of SFPN provides a therapeutic target for FM and in this article we hypothesize and provide rationale for the idea that this same phenomenon (SFPN) might explain, in some IC/BPS patients, the finding of widespread pain and likewise provide a therapeutic target for these patients.

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Funding

This study was funded by NIH/NIDDK Grant 5R21DK106554-02 (SJW).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology/Female Pelvic Health, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Catherine A. Matthews, Robert J. Evans, Gopal Badlani & Stephen J. Walker

  2. Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 391 Technology Way, Winston Salem, NC, 27101, USA

    Shaun P. Deveshwar & Stephen J. Walker

Authors
  1. Catherine A. Matthews
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  2. Shaun P. Deveshwar
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  3. Robert J. Evans
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  4. Gopal Badlani
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  5. Stephen J. Walker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen J. Walker.

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Matthews, C.A., Deveshwar, S.P., Evans, R.J. et al. Small fiber polyneuropathy as a potential therapeutic target in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Int Urogynecol J 30, 1817–1820 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04011-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-04011-x

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