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Interstitial cystitis is a disease of de bladder. At cystoscopy typical signs of inflammation can be seen, the so called Hunner lesions. Symptoms are high frequency voiding and pain or discomfort felt in the region of the bladder and urethra when the bladder fills. There is no curative treatment. Fulguration of Hunner lesions can give a temporarily relief. In the end fibrosis of the bladder can lead to a cripple bladder with hampered bladder capacity and sometimes secondary hydronephrosis. For a long time this diagnosis was mixed up with bladder pain syndrome because of same symptoms. We now consider IC as a distinct phenotype. The etiology of IC is most probably due to a disorder in the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]