There were 400 samples collected form the study cohort. Participants were assigned to 3 primary groups: UCPPS, positive control (chronic pain in other body sites), and healthy controls. Research team applied multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), a mass spectrometry (MS) method that allows targeting specific peptides to detect proteins (Figure 1). Total of 72 proteins related to chronic disease and inflammation were compared to the research serum proteins. Each patient had 96 wells (90-93 samples and 4-8 quality control plasma samples). Patient samples were partially randomized to the controls, flare status, cohort type (pelvic pain only or widespread pain), urine severity, RICE score, age and gender, and pelvic pain.
Figure 1
Data analysis revealed a specific serum proteomic signature associated with painful urinary urgency. Detected proteins had a different expression depending on the study group, gender, age, and severity of urinary symptoms (Figure 2).
Figure 2
Alpha-1-antychymotrypsin (AACT) significantly decreased with painful filling and urgency. Research findings associate clinical subgroups with underlying biology in UCPPS.
Presented by: Jennifer T. Anger, MD, MPH; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Co-authors: Weston Spivia, A. Lenore Ackerman, Karyn Eilber, Jayoung Kim, Qin Fu, Michael Freeman, Jennifer Van Eyk, Los Angeles, CA
Written by: Hanna Stambakio, BS, Clinical Research Coordinator, Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania @AStambakio at the American Urological Association's 2019 Annual Meeting (AUA 2019), May 3 – 6, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois