Inal-Gultekin, GuldalGormez, ZelihaMangir, NasideFizyoloji / PhysiologyFizyoloji / Physiology2024-05-252024-05-25202231663-981210.3389/fphar.2022.7808552-s2.0-85128276779https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.780855https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14517/910Inal Gultekin, Guldal/0000-0002-8313-6119Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is a debilitating pain syndrome of unknown etiology that predominantly affects females. Clinically, BPS/IC presents in a wide spectrum where all patients report severe bladder pain together with one or more urinary tract symptoms. On bladder examination, some have normal-appearing bladders on cystoscopy, whereas others may have severely inflamed bladder walls with easily bleeding areas (glomerulations) and ulcerations (Hunner's lesion). Thus, the reported prevalence of BPS/IC is also highly variable, between 0.06% and 30%. Nevertheless, it is rightly defined as a rare disease (ORPHA:37202). The aetiopathogenesis of BPS/IC remains largely unknown. Current treatment is mainly symptomatic and palliative, which certainly adds to the suffering of patients. BPS/IC is known to have a genetic component. However, the genes responsible are not defined yet. In addition to traditional genetic approaches, novel research methodologies involving bioinformatics are evaluated to elucidate the genetic basis of BPS/IC. This article aims to review the current evidence on the genetic basis of BPS/IC to determine the most promising targets for possible novel treatments.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessgene expressionadhesion moleculestargeted treatmentrare urinary diseasebioinformaticsArticleQ1Q113WOS:00079202540000135401223