Hemorrhagic cystitis is diffuse inflammation of the bladder leading to hemorrhage. This is seen most often in cancer patients as a complication of therapy.

Causes of hemorrhagic cystitis include chemotherapy (e.g. cyclophosphamide), radiation, or viral infection (e.g. with the BK virus in bone marrow transplant patients. In the case of hemorrhagic cystitis from cyclophosphamide, this can be prevented through aggressive hydration and the use of mesna, which neutralizes the toxicity of acrolein, a metabolite of cyclophosphamide.

Diseases