Pathologic involvement of the urinary bladder in progressive systemic sclerosis

Abstract

We describe 2 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) who manifested characteristic pathologic abnormalities in the urinary bladder. Increased connective tissue deposition in the lamina propria and between smooth muscle bundles was demonstrated in both patients and endovascular proliferation in small arteries of the bladder was noted in one patient. Both patients had persistent unexplained microscopic hematuria; one patient manifested urinary frequency and incontinence. The relationship of these clinical abnormalities to the pathologic findings in the bladder is unclear. Structural or functional abnormalities of the urinary bladder may develop in patients with PSS.