Hemorrhagic cystitis is an inflammatory bladder condition marked by hematuria, which is blood in the urine. In addition to blood in the urine, a person with hemorrhagic cystitis may urinate more frequently and feel pain or burning upon urination. A person with this condition may also suffer from pain in the lower back and abdomen. In some cases, this condition causes a person to suffer from nausea and fevers as well. Bladder cancer, some infections that affect the urinary tract, and some types of cancer treatments are risk factors for developing hemorrhagic cystitis.
Hemorrhagic cystitis is a condition in which the bladder is inflamed and hematuria develops. Hematuria often develops suddenly and can be scant and appear pinkish or bright red in the patient’s urine. An individual with this condition may only have a noticeable amount of blood in his urine occasionally or he may have blood in his urine every time he urinates.
In addition to blood in the urine, a person with this condition may develop a range of other symptoms. Often, a person with hemorrhagic cystitis may experience pain or burning during urination, have to urinate much more frequently, or notice a greater urgency when he has to urinate. Sometimes a person with this condition may wake at night because he has to urinate, or he may experience incontinence. Abdominal or lower-back pain often accompanies hemorrhagic forms of cystitis as well. Fatigue and bladder infections may also develop as signs of the condition.
Usually, a person develops hemorrhagic cystitis because of damage to the bladder and its blood vessels. This may occur because of diseases, viral infections, toxin exposure, and even drugs used for treating other illnesses and conditions. People who take chemotherapy medications, undergo radiation therapy for the pelvis, or have persistent infections of the urinary tract may be at an increased risk of developing hemorrhagic cystitis. Additionally, bladder cancer patients and individuals with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) may have an increased risk of developing the condition as well.
Treatment for this condition may include medications for pain and the cessation of medications and treatments that may contribute to the problem. Sometimes medications are placed in the bladder to help control the bleeding. Blood transfusions may also prove helpful for cases in which hemorrhagic cystitis has caused anemia. Additionally, antibiotics can be used for treating infections that contribute to this condition.
