A nomogram for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis based on netrin-1.

This study aimed to combine plasma netrin-1 and clinical parameters to construct a diagnostic model for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC).

We analyzed the independent diagnostic value of netrin-1 and the correlation with clinical symptom scores of BPS/IC. Clinical parameters were selected using LASSO regression, and a multivariate logistic regression model based on netrin-1 was established, and then a nomogram of BPS/IC prevalence was constructed. The nomogram was evaluated using calibration curves, the C-index, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Finally, the model was validated using an internal validation method.

The area under the curve for the ability of netrin-1 to independently predict BPS/IC diagnosis was 0.858 (p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 82%. The predicted nomogram included three variables: age, CD3 + /CD4 + T lymphocyte ratio, and netrin-1. The C-index of this nomogram was 0.882, and the predicted values were highly consistent with the actual results in the calibration curve. In addition, the internally validated C-index of 0.870 confirms the high reliability of the model. DCA results show that the net patient benefit of the netrin-1 combined with other clinical parameters was higher than that of the single netrin-1 model.

Netrin-1 can be used as a diagnostic marker for BPS/IC and is associated with pain. The nomogram constructed by combining netrin-1 and clinical parameters was able to predict BPS/IC with great accuracy. In addition, Netrin-1 may also serve as a novel therapeutic target for BPS/IC.

International urology and nephrology. 2021 Dec 13 [Epub ahead of print]

Xiaojie Ang, Yufeng Jiang, Zongqiang Cai, Qi Zhou, Miao Li, Bin Zhang, Weiguo Chen, Li-Hua Chen, Xi Zhang

Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, China., Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, China. ., Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China. ., Department of Urology, Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No 189 Chao Yang Road, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China. .