Decreased Viral Load and Symptoms of Polyomavirus‐Associated Chronic Interstitial Cystitis after Intravesical Cidofovir Treatment

Abstract

Interstitial cystitis causes disabling bladder pain and is usually diagnosed in the absence of infection. We describe a patient with interstitial cystitis who had high urinary levels of polyomavirus that decreased dramatically after initiation of intravesical cidofovir treatment; the patient also showed substantial improvement in symptoms. Another patient had milder symptoms of cystitis and intermittent polyomavirus shedding. Polyomaviruses, particularly BK virus, may cause some cases of interstitial cystitis.