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Here: ICN : ECRC
: What is EC?
Eosinophilic
cystitis (EC) is a rare bladder disorder that has symptoms similar
to interstitial cystitis (frequency, urgency, pain, spasms and
bleeding). The pain from EC is constant and unrelenting, very
difficult to control. Bleeding can be profuse at times. It appears
that EC occurs in both men and women, of all ages. However,
no formal epidemiological studies have been conducted.
CAUSE:
In most cases, the cause of EC is known. Chemotherapy and radiation
treatments are known causes. It is also suspected that some
medications amy contribute to its development. EC is sometimes
a symptom of hypereosinophilia,
and it can also be caused by something a simple as a food allergy.
What happens with EC is the blood cells (eosinophils) that normally
attack allergens and foreign objects in the body begin attacking
normal healthy tissue - in our case, the bladder. For this reason,
when there's no known cause for EC, some doctors and pathologists
think it may be an autoimmune disorder.
TREATMENTS:
For patients who have known cause, the cure can be as simple
as eliminating or controlling that cause, followed by a course
of high, tapering doses of corticosteroids. Sometimes EC patients
must have the effected area of the bladder
removed (partial cystectomy). Others have been helped by
DMSO
treatments. Many children have been diagnosed with EC that usually
clears up on its own, others have required treatment. Cyclosporin
has helped some pediatric patients.
NEWS!
05/02
Dr. Gerald Gleich, MD (University of Utah),
reports that he is in the process of publishing a new paper
on EC documenting a new instillation (bladder cocktail) that
they have developed and tested. He would be happy to consult
with any physicians currently treating EC patients. His contact
information is as follows:
Gerald
J. Gleich M.D.
Department of Dermatology
4B454 School of Medicine
30 North 1900 East
Salt Lake City, Utah
84132-2409
Telephone 801 581 8963
E-mail: gerald.gleich@hsc.utah.edu
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