Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in patients with interstitial cystitis (IC) and to explore the correlation between periureterally located Hunner lesions and ipsilateral VUR.
Materials and methods: We evaluated 344 patients with IC who underwent cystoscopy (March 2012 to July 2013). Among these patients, 25 underwent voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) to check for the presence of VUR. We reviewed the cystoscopy findings (grade and location of Hunner lesions) and the results of VCUG (presence and grade of VUR). The relationship between VUR and periureterally located Hunner lesions and the association between cystoscopic grading of IC and VUR were evaluated.
Results: Of the 25 patients with IC, seven (28%) had VUR (two bilateral and five unilateral). Among nine separate ureters with VUR, seven (78%) had associated periureterally located Hunner lesions, as evaluated cystoscopically. The median bladder capacity was 200 mL for patients with VUR and 230 mL for patients without VUR, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). There was a strong correlation between the presence of VUR and ipsilateral periureterally located Hunner lesions (p<0.05). However, there was no association between the severity of cystoscopy grading and the presence of VUR (p>0.05).
Conclusion: According to our study, VUR is not an uncommon complication in patients with IC, and there is a statistically significant correlation between VUR and periureterally located Hunner lesions. We assume that, along with the decrease in bladder capacity, a periureterally located Hunner lesion may be an important factor in the development of VUR.
Keywords: Hunner lesion; interstitial cystitis; vesicoureteral reflux.