IC Disease

What exciting news for those of us who suffer from other chronic conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia!  The National Institute of Health (NIH) has awarded $37.5 million to eight research centers who will conduct a 5-year study of chronic urologic pelvic pain syndromes and how they relate to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.  I have believed for years that my IC Disease is related to my chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

The eight research centers that will be involved in this major study include:

• Northwestern University, Chicago
• University of California, Los Angeles
•  University of Iowa, Iowa City
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• University of Washington, Seattle
• Washington University, St Louis
• University of Colorado, Denver (tissue/sample bank & genomic/proteomic analysis)
• University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (coordination & data analysis)

From the NIH Press Release:

“The MAPP Network’s expanded scientific approach will address many persistent questions about urologic chronic pelvic pain,” said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D. “Knowing whether there are risk factors common to all the disorders and whether clinical profiles can be identified for each will provide invaluable, fundamental information for developing treatment strategies.”

The innovative shift in research focus represented by the MAPP initiative is supported by recent epidemiological studies showing that interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome are frequently associated with other chronic pain disorders such as fibromyalgia (chronic pain of unknown origin), chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. These latest findings suggest the possibility of common underlying disease processes in these chronic disorders.

“The bladder was assumed to be the origin of the interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome symptoms and the prostate was assumed to be the source of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms,” explained Leroy M. Nyberg Jr., M.D., Ph.D., the NIDDK urologist heading the program. “However, in spite of intense study funded by NIDDK, no organ-specific cause has been identified for either disorder.”

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