BACKGROUND

Urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), which includes interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis (CP/CPPS), is associated with increased voiding frequency, nocturia, and chronic pelvic pain. The cause of these diseases is unknown and likely involves many different mechanisms. Dysregulated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) signaling is a potential pathologic mechanism for IC/BPS and CP/CPPS. Many angiotensin receptor downstream signaling factors, including oxidative stress, fibrosis, mast cell recruitment, and increased inflammatory mediators, are present in the bladders of IC/BPS patients and prostates of CP/CPPS patients. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis that UCPPS patients have dysregulated angiotensin signaling, resulting in increased hypertension compared to controls. Secondly, we evaluated symptom severity in patients with and without hypertension and antihypertensive medication use.

METHODS

Data from UCPPS patients (n = 424), fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome (positive controls, n = 200), and healthy controls (n = 415) were obtained from the NIDDK Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain I (MAPP-I). Diagnosis of hypertension, current antihypertensive medications, pain severity, and urinary symptom severity were analyzed using chi-square test and t-test.

RESULTS

The combination of diagnosis and antihypertensive medications use was highest in the UCPPS group (n = 74, 18%), followed by positive (n = 34, 17%) and healthy controls (n = 48, 12%, p = 0.04). There were no differences in symptom severity based on hypertension in UCPPS and CP/CPPS; however, IC/BPS had worse ICSI (p = 0.031), AUA-SI (p = 0.04), and BPI pain severity (0.02). Patients (n = 7) with a hypertension diagnosis not on antihypertensive medications reported the greatest severity of pain and urinary symptoms.

CONCLUSION

This pattern of findings suggests that there may be a relationship between hypertension and UCPPS. Treating hypertension among these patients may result in reduced pain and symptom severity. Further investigation on the relationship between hypertension, antihypertensive medication use, and UCPPS and the role of angiotensin signaling in UCPPS conditions is needed.