Acute hemorrhagic cystitis

Dear Ask The Doctor: What is acute hemorrhagic cystitis

Dear Kelly: Cystitis is the inflammation of the urinary bladder. In hemorrhagic cystitis, there is red urine because the bladder is not only inflamed, but also associated with bleeding and pain during urination. Acute hemorrhagic cystitis may occur after receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy with drugs like Cyclophosphamide or Ifosfamide or after having the bone marrow transplant. These drugs and procedures irritate the inner wall of the bladder either directly or with the end products of the chemo drugs being excreted in the urine, thereby producing inflammation of the bladder and bleeding.