Anna Rosamilia

Publications (2)3.48 Total impact

• Article: Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

  Anna Rosamilia
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  ABSTRACT: Painful bladder syndrome (PBS) is the term used to refer to a chronic symptom complex of urinary frequency and bladder 'pressure', discomfort or pain in the absence of any other reasonable cause for these symptoms (such as infection). Interstitial cystitis (IC) is the established term used by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) consensus workshop for which a research definition was formulated in the late 1980s. Opinion varies regarding not only definition but also the usefulness of diagnostic investigations such as urodynamic assessment and the potassium sensitivity test. There are still controversies concerning the most basic investigation of cystoscopy in PBS/IC. New developments in the study of PBS/IC include the identification of a potential urinary biomarker, antiproliferative factor (APF), which is produced by urothelial cells in IC and thought to inhibit proliferation. In addition, condition-specific validated questionnaires should aid evaluation, and a growing number of randomised controlled trials should enable clinicians to use evidence-based therapeutic options.
  Bailli&egrave re s Best Practice and Research in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology 01/2006; 19(6):843-59. · 1.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Pathology of interstitial cystitis.

  Anna Rosamilia, Yasuhiko Igawa, Shin Higashi
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  ABSTRACT: In this workshop the participants were asked to consider the role of pathology in the diagnosis and management of interstitial cystitis (IC). Currently, the NIDDK definition of IC is made on clinical criteria; bladder biopsy is not required for the clinical work-up and histology is not used as a diagnostic criterion. The literature review described the most common pathological findings to be epithelial denudation or ulceration, mononuclear inflammation, edema, congestion, hemorrhage, and mast cell activation. These pathological changes were not universal or specific with 55% of IC subjects in one study having histology that was normal and indistinguishable from control subjects. Presentations were made which generally confirmed an association between abnormal pathology and more severe disease as determined by symptoms, cystoscopic capacity, and prognosis. During the workshop it was clear that whether or not a biopsy was performed depended on a number of factors, for example, country of origin, the research interest of the unit, and the desire to exclude malignancy on histological grounds. The consensus, which was not unanimous, was that bladder biopsy was a-non-mandatory test in the clinical work-up of the patient with IC but that urine cytology should be performed. It was discussed that bladder biopsy be an optional test and particularly relevant when one was suspicious of other conditions and in IC research. It was hoped that bladder biopsy pathology will give clues to contributory pathogenic processes such as epithelial dysfunction and inflammation; and in the future, with the help of molecular biology, may help determine etiology.
  International Journal of Urology 11/2003; 10 Suppl:S11-5. · 1.75 Impact Factor