GLOMERULI IN WOMEN WITH URETHRAL SPHINCTER DEFICIENCY - REPORT OF 2 CASES

A classic feature of interstitial cystitis is the development of glomeruli during bladder distention while the patient is under anesthesia, which is thought to be a sign that the bladder was chronically under filled before distention. The cause for under filling is pain or sensory urgency in interstitial cystitis, and glomeruli have also been associated with conditions of decreased functional bladder capacity. Two cases of bladder glomeruli associated with severe intrinsic urethral sphincter deficiency (type 3 incontinence) are reported. Neither patient had symptoms of interstitial cystitis before or after anti-incontinence surgery. A likely explanation is that severe stress incontinence chronically prevented the bladder from filling to capacity before cystoscopy. Thus, these cases support the premise that glomeruli are a response to distending a previously under filled bladder.