Glomerulation refers to bladder hemorrhages which are thought to be associated with some types of interstitial cystitis (IC).
[2] However other research has theorized that the hydrodistention procedure used for the diagnosis of IC itself may have created these tiny broken blood vessels.
[5] However, efforts to determine whether this is association or causation have concluded that while glomerulations may be a common finding in individuals with prostate cancer, they are not a significant predictor.
[9] In relation to interstitial cystitis, when noxious stimuli are present, it causes injury to the bladder mucosa resulting in recruitment of inflammatory cells.
Injury to the GAG layer may lead to increased release of adhesion factors that bind to angiogenic molecules, which generally have little presence under normal conditions, to promote wound healing.
[9] Diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain or discomfort, accompanied with urinary symptoms, seems to be the most likely risk factor for glomerulation.
[9] Research has shown that up to 7.5% of the adult female population is associated with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), in which irritative voiding is commonly seen.
[16] In 1987, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) developed diagnostic criteria for IC which included the presence of glomerulations or petechial hemorrhages.
[18] Formation of these newer and weaker vessels in the submucosa associated specifically with IC or BPS, may rupture during hydrodistention causing glomerulation.
[3] In addition to hydrodistension related glomerulations, a study by Rosamilia et al. has shown that biopsied bladders from women with interstitial cystitis have decreased vessel density in the subepithelium.
With this, data collected by Irwin et al. also showed that blood perfusion in interstitial cystitis bladders is reduced.
ensure adequate hydration to flush out infection, beware of drug-induced bleeding and continuous bladder irrigation.
While fulguration is listed as a third-line treatment option for interstitial cystitis with Hunner's Lesions, guidelines do not recommend it to treat glomerulations.
[27] Instead, guidelines have set symptom control and quality of life as some of the main goals of treatment for IC.
In addition to traditional IC therapies, diet modification remains a core self care strategy as foods that are irritating to the bladder dramatically worsen the symptoms that people may experience.