Serum immunoglobulin and complement alterations in interstitial cystitis.

Sera from 41 patients with interstitial cystitis were tested for immunoglobulins (IgA, G, M), complement components (C1q, C3, C4) and for C1-esterase inhibitor. There was a statistically highly significant depletion of the serum levels of complement component C4 (p less than 0.001) and immunoglobulin G was markedly elevated (p less than 0.001). Our results suggest the classical pathway activation of the complement system and support the possibility that a chronic local immunological process is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.