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Medicine LibreTexts

12.2: Etiology

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There are many theories regarding the etiology of interstitial cystitis but a deficiency of glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) in the urothelium is best documented. GAGs are the polysaccharide macromolecules which cover the urothelium of bladder, preventing noxious substances in urine (such as potassium) penetrating urothelium and the bladder wall. GAG deficiency leads to urine penetrating the bladder wall, release of neuropeptides resulting in pain.


This page titled 12.2: Etiology is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Stephen Jeffery and Peter de Jong via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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