Vera PL, et al. - Researchers investigated if the urinary levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were increased in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) patients with Hunner lesions. They also assessed if urine MIF was elevated in other forms of inflammatory cystitis. In IC/BPS patients with Hunner lesions and in patients with other bladder inflammatory and painful conditions, urine MIF was seen to be elevated. They found that in order to select IC/BPS patients more accurately for endoscopic evaluation and possible anti-inflammatory treatment, MIF also could serve as a noninvasive biomarker.

Methods

• Authors assayed the urine samples for MIF by ELISA.
• They examined the urine samples from 3 female groups: IC/BPS patients without (N=55) and with Hunner lesions (N=43); Non-IC/BPS patients (N=100; control group; no history of IC/BPS; cancer or recent bacterial cystitis).
• Experts also examined the urine samples from 3 male groups: patients with bacterial cystitis (N=50), radiation cystitis (N=18) and non-cystitis patients (N = 119; control group; negative for bacterial cystitis).

Results

• Findings suggested that urine MIF (Mean MIF pg/ml ± SEM) was increased in female IC/BPS patients with Hunner lesions (2,159 ± 435.3) vs IC/BPS patients without Hunner lesions (460 ± 114.5) or non- IC/BPS patients (414 ± 47.6).
• On receiver-operating curve analyses, urine MIF levels were seen to discriminate between the two IC groups (AUC = 72%; CI: 61-82%).
• As per the findings, male patients with bacterial and radiation cystitis had increased urine MIF levels (2,839 ± 757.1 and 4,404 ± 1,548.1; respectively) vs non-cystitis patients (681 ± 75.2).