Glomerulation

Glomerulation refers to bladder hemorrhages which are thought to be associated with some types of Interstitial cystitis. The presence of glomerulations, also known as petechial hemorrhages, in the bladder suggests that the bladder wall has been damaged, irritated and/or inflamed. In fact, the NIDDK Diagnostic Criteria for IC, developed in 1987, required the presence of glomerulations or Hunner's Ulcers to make a firm diagnosis of IC and is still used, today, to determine patient eligibility for some clinical trials. Research conducted by Waxman, however, determined that the hydrodistention procedure itself may have created these tiny broken blood vessels. Thus, a diagnosis of IC is now based upon other, less invasive methods, such as the PUF questionnaire.

In addition to traditional IC therapies, diet modification remains a core self help strategy as foods that are irritating to the bladder dramatically worsen the symptoms that patients may experience. Foods high in acid and/or caffeine (such as all coffees, regular teas, green teas, sodas, diet sodas, artificial sugars and most fruit juices) should be avoided. The daily goal of patients should be to soothe rather than irritate the bladder wall.

Support Resources:

• Interstitial Cystitis Network
• Canada IC & OAB Resource Center
• ICU Texas
• Interstitial Cystitis Advice (A Patient Based Community for People with IC)

Information Resources

• Interstitial Cystitis Network Patient Handbook
• The Top Five List of Forbidden Foods
• IC Survival Guide by Robert Moldwin, MD
• A Taste of the Good Life: A Cookbook for an IC Diet
• Confident Choices: Customizing the IC Diet
• The ICN Special Report on Diet
• International Painful Bladder Foundation: http://www.painful-bladder.org