Potential Urine and Serum Biomarkers in Patients with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis

Background: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a common chronic disease, and its aetiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. This study aimed to identify potential urine and serum biomarkers in patients with IC/BPS to further understand the pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease. Methods: Patients with IC/BPS diagnosed and treated in the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 1 July 2021 to 30 July 2023 were selected. The urine and serum biomarkers of 50 patients with IC/BPS were investigated and compared with the urine and serum samples of 50 healthy controls. IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 was used for statistical analysis of the recorded data by using chi-square test, T-test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, 50 patients with IC/BPS (mean age, 54.20 +/- 8.15 years) were included in the study. Those with history of urinary diseases, anxiety or depression were susceptible to IC/BPS. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nerve growth factor, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in urine, as well as IL-8, TNF-alpha, and PGE2 in serum, were found to significantly increase in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Multifactor analysis showed that anxiety, depression, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and PEG2 are risk factors for patients with IC/BPS. Conclusions: Multiple biomarkers were identified in the urine and serum of patients with IC/BPS, suggesting a potential close relationship to the pathogenesis of IC/BPS.