A study to detect Helicobacter pylori in fresh and archival specimens from patients with interstitial cystitis, using amplification methods

Objectives To detect Helicobacter pylori DNA in fresh and paraffin-embedded bladder biopsy specimens, and thus determine any possible role in interstitial cystitis (IC). Materials and Methods Thirty-three bladder biopsy samples were examined from patients with IC (29 paraffin-embedded and four freshly frozen) diagnosed according to National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease criteria. The positive control was a gastric biopsy sample from a patient with a known gastric ulcer caused by H. pylori infection. Results The anticipated polymerase chain reaction product size of 109 base pairs was obtained with the positive control, whereas none of the other biopsy samples (paraffin embedded or fresh) showed positive amplification specific for H. pylori. Conclusions As there was no H. pylori DNA in any of the samples from patients with IC, it is an unlikely candidate in the pathogenesis of IC.