nanobacteria levels and symptoms of nanobacteria-associated interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome

Decreased nanobacteria levels and symptoms of nanobacteria-associated interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome after tetracycline treatment

Urological Research Institute of PLA, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University,

Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China.

This study was designed to detect whether nanobacteria (NB) reside in urine and bladder

tissue samples of patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) and

whether antibiotic therapy targeting these organisms is effective in reducing NB levels and

IC/PBS symptoms.

Twenty-seven IC/PBS patients underwent cystoscopy. Bladder biopsies and urine samples

were obtained and cultured for NB, which were identified by indirect immunofluorescent

staining and transmission electron microscopy.

Eleven bladder samples showed growth of microbes that were identified to be similar to NB.

Homologous study of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene suggested that the NB could be the

pathogen. For enrolled 11 patients, NB levels decreased dramatically after tetracycline

treatment, and they reported significant reduction in the severity of IC/PBS symptoms.

A high prevalence of NB was observed in female IC/PBS, and anti-NB treatment effectively

improved the symptoms, which suggest that NB may cause some cases of IC/PBS.

Written by:
Zhang QH, Shen XC, Zhou ZS, Chen ZW, Lu GS, Song B. Are you the author?

Reference:
Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2009 Sep 17. Epub ahead of print.
doi:10.1007/s00192-009-0994-7

PubMed Abstract
PMID:19760079