Significant Linkage Evidence for Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome on Chromosome 3

While the etiology of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome is unknown, this study provides evidence that a genetic variant(s) on chromosome 3 and possibly on chromosomes 1, 4, 9 and 14 contribute to an interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome predisposition. Sequence analysis of affected cases in identified pedigrees may provide insight into genes contributing to interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.