Measurement of oxyhemoglobin concentration changes in interstitial cystitis female patients: A near-infrared spectroscopy study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate brain activity related to bladder sensation in interstitial cystitis patients.

METHODS

A total of 10 interstitial cystitis patients (all women; mean age 68 years) and 10 healthy controls (all women; mean age 64 years) participated in the present study. Frontal lobe blood flow was measured non-invasively by using multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy with large and small bladder volumes (created by infusing water) up to the first desire to void.

RESULTS

The frontal cortex of the right and left hemisphere was activated, and the activation was detected as an increase in oxyhemoglobin concentration. The increase during the first desire to void in the interstitial cystitis group was greater than that in the control group. In addition, this difference was particularly observed in Brodmann's areas 9, 44, 45 and 46, reportedly associated with micturition and sensory modulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that the frontal area is largely activated during bladder filling in interstitial cystitis patients. Our findings suggest that the major change in cerebral blood flow is related to the characteristic urinary symptoms of interstitial cystitis patients.