Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (810 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Inflammation of the urinary bladder, either from bacterial or non-bacterial causes. Cystitis is usually associated with painful urination (dysuria), increased frequency, urgency, and suprapubic pain.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Cystitides.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Urinary Bladder Diseases
- Narrower topics
- Cystitis, Hemorrhagic; Cystitis, Interstitial; Pyelocystitis
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 11,391 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Cystitis” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 1,770 of them (15.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 4,853 records.
Reviews account for 1,367 records (12.0%) and meta-analyses for 58. Randomized controlled trials number 343 (3.0%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 4,853 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,207 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,561 |
| 2020 onward | 1,770 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,367 | 12.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 58 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 343 | 3.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Cystitis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in kidney, urology and women's health
Kidney, urinary and reproductive health research uses lab markers (such as creatinine), imaging, symptom scores and registry data on pregnancy and birth. Findings about pregnancy are especially sensitive to who was studied and when in pregnancy exposure occurred. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment, fertility or pregnancy; speak to a qualified clinician. Check the population, the outcome measured and whether the study accounted for other health differences between groups.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics reveals immune landscape for interstitial cystitis | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 61 | cc by PMID 35589692 · DOI · PMC9120182 |
| Multimodal Single-Cell Analyses Outline the Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Effectors of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 47 | cc by PMID 35470584 · DOI · PMC9218658 |
| Broaden Horizons: The Advancement of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome | 2022 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 41 | cc by PMID 36498919 · DOI · PMC9736130 |
| A Review of NIDDK-Funded Studies of Urological Chronic Pain Conditions | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 41603228 · DOI · PMC13054636 |
Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics reveals immune landscape for interstitial cystitis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a severely debilitating and chronic disorder with unclear etiology and pathophysiology, which makes the diagnosis difficult and treatment challenging.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings depict the immune landscape for IC and might provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of IC.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (230 words)
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a severely debilitating and chronic disorder with unclear etiology and pathophysiology, which makes the diagnosis difficult and treatment challenging. To investigate the role of immunity in IC bladders, we sequenced 135,091 CD45+ immune cells from 15 female patients with IC and 9 controls with stress urinary incontinence using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). 22 immune subpopulations were identified in the constructed landscape. Among them, M2-like macrophages, inflammatory CD14+ macrophages, and conventional dendritic cells had the most communications with other immune cells. Then, a significant increase of central memory CD4+ T cells, regulatory T cells, GZMK+CD8+ T cells, activated B cells, un-switched memory B cells, and neutrophils, and a significant decrease of CD8+ effector T cells, Th17 cells, follicular helper T cells, switched memory B cells, transitional B cells, and macrophages were noted in IC bladders. The enrichment analysis identified a virus-related response during the dynamic change of cell proportion, furthermore, the human polyomavirus-2 was detected with a positive rate of 95% in urine of patients with IC. By integrating the results of scRNA-seq with spatial transcriptomics, we found nearly all immune subpopulations were enriched in the urothelial region or located close to fibroblasts in IC bladders, but they were discovered around urothelium and smooth muscle cells in control bladders. These findings depict the immune landscape for IC and might provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of IC.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35589692 · DOI · PMC9120182
Multimodal Single-Cell Analyses Outline the Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Effectors of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) has a significant impact on quality of life, but the etiopathogenesis remains largely unknown.
- Closing excerpt
- The results demonstrate the high heterogeneity in NHIC/HIC, and provide an essential resource for diagnosis, and treatment of IC/BPS in the future by highlighting the importance of the microenvironment of bladder mucosa.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (197 words)
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) has a significant impact on quality of life, but the etiopathogenesis remains largely unknown. The bladder microenvironment of patients with IC/BPS to obtain biological evidence supporting diagnosis and novel therapy is systematically characterized. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and image mass cytometry (IMC) are applied to bladder biopsies of the IC/BPS cohort. A total of 42 distinct cell clusters are identified from different groups. The increased hyperactivated Th1-biased response, but not Th2-biased response, and decreased immunosuppressive Treg are elucidated in the bladder microenvironment of non-Hunner-type IC (NHIC)/Hunner-type IC (HIC). M2/M2-like macrophage extends in the HIC and M1-like macrophage extends in NHIC, all of which secrete a range of chemokines with different pattern. The pro-inflammatory mediators, TNF-α, produced by tissue-resident macrophages and IL6, by the inflammatory fibroblasts are identified as key mediators of IC/BPS pathogenesis. Additionally, a regulatory network between different cell types is observed as a shift from structural cell communication in unaffected normal bladder to a Macrophage-Endothelial-dominated interactome in NHIC/HIC. The results demonstrate the high heterogeneity in NHIC/HIC, and provide an essential resource for diagnosis, and treatment of IC/BPS in the future by highlighting the importance of the microenvironment of bladder mucosa.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35470584 · DOI · PMC9218658
Broaden Horizons: The Advancement of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a debilitating disease that induces mental stress, lower urinary symptoms, and pelvic pain, therefore resulting in a decline in quality of life.
- Closing excerpt
- The complexity and emerging evidence on IC/BPS elicit more relevant studies and research and could optimize the management of IC/BPS patients.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (294 words)
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a debilitating disease that induces mental stress, lower urinary symptoms, and pelvic pain, therefore resulting in a decline in quality of life. The present diagnoses and treatments still lead to unsatisfactory outcomes, and novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities are needed. Although our understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of IC/BPS is growing, the altered permeability of the impaired urothelium, the sensitized nerves on the bladder wall, and the chronic or intermittent sensory pain with inaccurate location, as well as pathologic angiogenesis, fibrosis, and Hunner lesions, all act as barriers to better diagnoses and treatments. This study aimed to summarize the comprehensive information on IC/BPS research, thereby promoting the progress of IC/BPS in the aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. According to diverse international guidelines, the etiology of IC/BPS is associated with multiple factors, while the presence of Hunner lesions could largely distinguish the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of non-Hunner lesions in IC/BPS patients. On the basis of the diagnosis of exclusion, the diverse present diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are undergoing a transition from a single approach to multimodal strategies targeting different potential phenotypes recommended by different guidelines. Investigations into the mechanisms involved in urinary symptoms, pain sensation, and bladder fibrosis indicate the pathophysiology of IC/BPS for further potential strategies, both in diagnosis and treatment. An overview of IC/BPS in terms of epidemiology, etiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and fundamental research is provided with the latest evidence. On the basis of shared decision-making, a multimodal strategy of diagnosis and treatment targeting potential phenotypes for individual patients with IC/BPS would be of great benefit for the entire process of management. The complexity and emerging evidence on IC/BPS elicit more relevant studies and research and could optimize the management of IC/BPS patients.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36498919 · DOI · PMC9736130
A Review of NIDDK-Funded Studies of Urological Chronic Pain Conditions [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionThis review highlights NIDDK-funded clinical research studies focused on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsThe data from these studies are a valuable resource that is available via the NIDDK Data Repository for future analysis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (89 words)
IntroductionThis review highlights NIDDK-funded clinical research studies focused on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).MethodsSince 1987, the NIDDK has funded numerous cohort studies, epidemiologic studies, and clinical trials for these conditions.ResultsWhile the majority of clinical trials have not demonstrated positive results, these research efforts have provided essential information about these conditions, which have informed clinical practice guidelines and enhanced the clinical care of patients.ConclusionsThe data from these studies are a valuable resource that is available via the NIDDK Data Repository for future analysis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41603228 · DOI · PMC13054636
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women: A 2010 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases [5]
- Research article Clinical practice. Uncomplicated urinary tract infection [6]
- Research article Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome [7]
- Research article Etiology, pathophysiology and biomarkers of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome [8]
- Research article ECIL guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of BK polyomavirus-associated haemorrhagic cystitis in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients [9]
- Research article Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: The evolving landscape, animal models and future perspectives [10]
References
- Peng L, Jin X, Li BY, Zeng X, Liao BH, Jin T, et al.. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics reveals immune landscape for interstitial cystitis. . 2022. PMID 35589692 · DOI · PMC9120182
- Su F, Zhang W, Meng L, Zhang W, Liu X, Liu X, et al.. Multimodal Single-Cell Analyses Outline the Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Effectors of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome. . 2022. PMID 35470584 · DOI · PMC9218658
- Li J, Yi X, Ai J. Broaden Horizons: The Advancement of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome. . 2022. PMID 36498919 · DOI · PMC9736130
- Quentin Clemens J. A Review of NIDDK-Funded Studies of Urological Chronic Pain Conditions. . 2026. PMID 41603228 · DOI · PMC13054636
- Gupta K, Hooton TM, Naber KG, Wullt B, Colgan R, Miller LG, et al.. International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women: A 2010 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2011. PMID 21292654 · DOI
- Hooton TM. Clinical practice. Uncomplicated urinary tract infection. N Engl J Med. 2012. PMID 22417256 · DOI
- Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH. Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome. J Urol. 2022. PMID 35536143 · DOI
- Patnaik SS, Laganà AS, Vitale SG, Butticè S, Noventa M, Gizzo S, et al.. Etiology, pathophysiology and biomarkers of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2017. PMID 28391486 · DOI
- Cesaro S, Dalianis T, Hanssen Rinaldo C, Koskenvuo M, Pegoraro A, Einsele H, et al.. ECIL guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of BK polyomavirus-associated haemorrhagic cystitis in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2018. PMID 29190347 · DOI
- Akiyama Y, Luo Y, Hanno PM, Maeda D, Homma Y. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: The evolving landscape, animal models and future perspectives. Int J Urol. 2020. PMID 32246572 · DOI · PMC7768977
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.