Acute bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: andrological implications

There is a consensus on the diagnostic management of bacterial prostatitis (acute and chronic). In chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) the diagnostic approach remains unclear, because inflammatory and noninflammatory CP/CPPS might be one entity with varying findings over time. The WHO definition of male accessory gland infection does not differentiate between prostatitis, epididymitis, and other inflammatory alterations of the urethral compartment. The definition therefore cannot be further accepted as a rational tool for the diagnosis of prostatitis and related diseases in urological andrology. Therapy in infectious prostatitis is standardised and antibiotics are the primary agents. Andrological implications are well defined, side-effects are minimal. CP/CPPS therapy has the goal to reduce pelvic pain. However, treatment regimens are not as standardised. Andrological side-effects are well defined and mainly due to the functional background of these agents.     

Seminal fluid analysis in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Prostatitis is a common cause of morbidity among adult men. There are more than 2,000,000 doctor visits per year in the United States, approximately half to urologists (Collins et al., 1998, J Urol 159:1224; Roberts et al., 1998, Urology 51:578; Krieger et al., 2003, Urology). The problem is that very few patients have obvious infections, or functional or structural abnormalities. The aim of this study is to examine our experience with seminal fluid analysis in this patient population, and to outline the potential utility of this examination in patient evaluation.     

Impact of post-ejaculatory pain in men with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

PURPOSE: Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) is a common debilitating condition in which ejaculation relieves symptoms for some but exacerbates them in others. We studied ejaculatory pain in a cohort with CPPS to investigate associations with symptoms, quality of life and risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 486 men in the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort study were stratified into 4 subgroups according to the presence of ejaculatory pain at baseline visit and at each of 3 monthly followup contacts. Subgroups were based on answers and labeled NO (always "no"), Nvar ("no" at baseline but "yes" or missing at least once), Yvar ("yes" at baseline but "no" or missing at least once) and YES (always "yes"). Demographic and quality of life data were obtained at baseline, together with medical and sexual history, symptoms, and cultures and microscopy of urine and seminal fluids. Associations among selected baseline risk factors, symptoms and post-ejaculatory pain were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall 128 men were classified as NO, 106 as Nvar, 137 as Yvar and 115 as YES. There was a progressive increase in baseline National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index total score (modified to exclude post-ejaculatory pain) from 18.5 for the NO subgroup to 25.5 for the YES subgroup (p <0.0001). Mental and physical quality of life were also progressively lower from the NO to the YES subgroup (p <0.001). There were no significant differences in white blood cell count or bacterial growth in urine, prostate fluid or semen among subgroups. Men in the YES subgroup were younger, more likely to live alone, had lower income and a greater variety of sexual practices than those without ejaculatory pain (NO subgroup). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CPPS and persistent ejaculatory pain have more severe symptoms, are less likely to improve with time, and have differences in demographic and sexual history compared to other patients with CPPS.     

Failure of a monotherapy strategy for difficult chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

PURPOSE: We determined the effect of a best evidence based monotherapeutic strategy for patients diagnosed with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) referred to a specialized prostatitis clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with CP/CPPS referred by urologists after failure of prescribed therapy for evaluation and treatment at Queen's University prostatitis research clinic were extensively evaluated, aggressively treated following a standardized treatment algorithm and followed for 1 year using a validated prostatitis specific symptom and quality of life instrument, the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). All patients underwent a standardized protocol for CP/CPPS including a history, physical examination, standard 4-glass test, plus urethral swab and semen for microscopy and culture, uroflowmetry and residual urine determination. Treatment followed a best evidence based strategy with a standardized monotherapy based algorithm. RESULTS: A total of 100 consecutive patients with CP/CPPS (average age 42.2 years, range 20 to 70 and average symptom duration 6.5 years, range 0.5 to 39) had 1-year followup after initial evaluation. Patients were prescribed treatment based on documentation of "failed," "successful" and "never tried" therapies based on a standardized treatment algorithm. Patients treated successfully were continued on the prescribed therapy, while therapy was discontinued and new therapy instituted (based on algorithm) in those in whom the initially prescribed therapy failed. At 1 year there was a statistically significant decrease in total NIH-CPSI (23.3 to 19.5, p = 0.0004), pain (11.0 to 9.4, p = 0.03) and quality of life (7.7 to 6.1, p <0.001), but not voiding (4.6 to 4.0, p = 0.12). A perceptible 25% decrease in total NIH-CPSI symptom score was noted in 37% and the greatest improvement was in the quality of life domain (43% of patients had greater than 25% improvement in quality of life). Of the patients 35% had a significant decrease of greater than 6 points in total NIH-CPSI. A clear, clinically significant improvement in total NIH-CPSI (greater than 50% decrease) was noted in 19%. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately a third of patients with treatment refractory CP/CPPS undergoing extensive evaluation and therapy based on a sequential monotherapy treatment strategy in a specialized prostatitis clinic had at least modest improvement in symptoms during 1 year. This study confirms that a treatment strategy based on the sequential application of monotherapies for patients with a long history of severe CP/CPPS remains relatively poor.     

Quercetin for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a common condition with a heterogeneous origin that responds best to multimodal therapy. The bioflavonoid quercetin has antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects that have proven useful for treating this condition. Using the clinical phenotype system UPOINT, quercetin can be helpful for those with organ-specific complaints (bladder or prostate) and pelvic floor spasm. This article discusses the current understanding of CP/CPPS and how treatment with quercetin can be used alone or as part of multimodal therapy.     

Significance of inflammation on standard semen analysis in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

The impact of defined urogenital inflammations on standard ejaculate parameters is still a matter of controversial debate. Basic spermiogram parameters has been analysed in patients with inflammatory and noninflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS-NIH IIIA/IIIB) with regard to indicators of inflammation in prostatic secretions and/or the ejaculate. A total of 112 consecutive patients symptomatic for chronic pelvic pain were included in the study. All of them underwent a 'four glass-test' including leukocyte determination in expressed prostatic secretions followed by ejaculate analysis according to WHO. The analysis included pH, volume, total sperm count, sperm density, motility, morphology (Shorr stain), vitality (eosin stain), and counting of peroxidase positive leukocytes (PPL). Patients were first subgrouped according to elevated leukocyte counts in prostatic secretions, and then according to the number of PPL in semen. Leukocytes neither in the prostatic secretions nor in the ejaculate were associated with reduced standard semen parameters. Our data supports previous results that elevated leukocyte counts in prostatic secretions and in ejaculate, as indicators of inflammation have no negative impact on total sperm count, sperm density, motility, morphology, and sperm vitality in patients with CP/CPPS.     

氯美扎酮联合吲哚美辛栓治疗慢性非细菌性前列腺炎／慢性盆腔疼痛综合征的研究

目的评价氯美扎酮联合吲哚美辛栓治疗以疼痛为主诉的慢性非细菌性前列腺炎／慢性盆腔疼痛综合征（CP／CPPS）的疗效。方法对符合CP／CPPS标准的180例患者随机分为吲哚美辛栓组、氯美扎酮联合吲哚美辛栓组及特拉唑嗪组,疗程4周。在治疗结束时进行疗效判定,疗效评价标准采用视觉模拟评分方法。结果中途退出7例,173例患者进行了疗效评价,联合治疗组症状改善总有效率与吲哚美辛栓组（x^2=3．87,P〈0．05）和特拉唑嗪组（x^2=6．82,P〈0．01）相比疗效差异有统计学意义。治疗过程中无严重不良反应发生。结论氯美扎酮联合吲哚美辛栓可作为CP／CPPS疼痛患者的一种有效治疗手段。     

体外热电场治疗在男性慢性盆腔疼痛综合征中的应用

目的从多方面评估体外热电场治疗对男性慢性前列腺炎/慢性盆腔疼痛综合征(CP/CPPS)患者症状的改善情况并进行疗效分析,进而判断其临床应用价值。方法回顾性收集2018年4月至2019年3月,57例使用LR-2005体外热电场治疗机进行治疗的CP/CPPS患者的临床资料,并对其治疗前后所填评分量表进行统计学分析。患者20~50岁,病程3个月~7年,其中行1个疗程治疗17例,2个疗程32例,3个疗程8例。所用评分量表包括:NIH-CPSI评分、PUF评分、VAS评分、QOL评分、SAS评分、SDS评分等。结果治疗前与治疗后,患者NIH-CPSI总评分分别为(25.05±6.32)vs(19.54±6.16)、PUF症状评分为(10.86±4.41)vs(8.46±4.11)、PUF困扰评分为(5.35±2.88)vs(4.03±2.33)、VAS评分为(3.97±2.40)vs(2.03±1.85)、QOL评分为(4.89±1.27)vs(3.95±1.25)、SAS评分为(37.35±8.76)vs(34.00±8.14)、SDS评分为(34.41±7.43)vs(32.05±4.78),治疗后均下降且与治疗前比较差异具有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。治疗后NIHCPSI评分轻中度人数增加,重度人数明显减少,治疗前后差异具有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。患者治疗后未见特殊不适或不良反应发生。结论体外热电场治疗能够有效减轻CP/CPPS患者炎症和疼痛反应,改善排尿症状,降低焦虑抑郁程度,提高患者生活质量。其临床疗效显著,治疗有效率高,符合WHO倡导的“无痛、无创、非介入”的治疗模式,患者容易接受,值得临床推广。     

Psychosocial variables affect the quality of life of men diagnosed with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To examine interactions between demographic, pain, urinary, psychological and environmental predictors of quality of life (QOL) in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 253 men previously enrolled in the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort study in North American tertiary‐care clinical centres (six in the USA and one in Canada) self‐reported with validated instruments, including the QOL subscales of the Short Form‐12 (physical, SF12‐PCS; and mental, SF12‐MCS), demographics, urinary symptoms, depression, current pain, pain coping, ‘catastrophising’ (catastrophic thinking about pain), pain control, social support and solicitous responses from a partner. Data were collected through a one‐time survey. Covariates determined to be significant were entered into a multivariable regression model predicting SF12‐PCS and SF12‐MCS.

RESULTS

Adjusting for covariates, regression models showed that poorer SF12‐PCS scores were predicted by worse urinary function (P < 0.001) and increased use of pain‐contingent resting as a coping strategy (P = 0.026). Further, poorer SF12‐MCS scores were predicted by greater pain catastrophizing (P = 0.002) and lower perceptions of social support (P< 0.001). In separate follow‐up analyses, helplessness was the significant catastrophizing subscale (P < 0.001), while support from family and friends were the significant social support subscales (P = 0.002 and <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that specific coping and environmental factors (i.e. catastrophizing, pain‐contingent resting, social support) are significant in understanding how patients with CP/CPPS adjust. These data can be used to develop specific cognitive‐behavioural programmes for men with CP/CPPS who are refractory to standard medical therapy.     

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis affect the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa

Male genital tract inflammations constitute an important factor of male subfertility in which different mediators are discussed damaging sperm membranes. As acrosome reaction (AR) is ultimately a membrane function, this study aimed at investigating the effects of the chronic pelvic pain syndrome on AR. In a total of 56 patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome NIH IIIA and NIH IIIB, AR, concentration of leucocytes in ejaculate and urine after prostate massage, sperm concentration, motility, vitality and morphology were determined. The control group (n=95) consisted of patients with normozoospermia and proven absence of signs of inflammation. Compared to the control, both patients groups showed poorer sperm morphology (P<0.0001) and sperm concentration (P<0.002). In addition, while maximum AR was not affected, inducibility of AR was significantly lower (P<0.004) and spontaneous AR increased (P<0.02). Our data clearly demonstrate a significant influence of the inflammation on acrosomal functionality, which could be mediated by inflammatory mediators like ROS. Ralf Henkel and Martin Ludwig contributed equally to the work.     

A case-control study of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and colorectal cancer

Study Type – Symptom prevalence (case control) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Associations are well established between intestinal infection/inflammation or inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer (CRC). Our study found an association between CRC and previously diagnosed chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Patients with CRC had a 1.45‐fold higher risk of having a previous diagnosis of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome than controls. This phenomenon was found to be more prominent in subjects younger than 60 years.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To estimate the association between chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and colorectal cancer (CRC) using a nationwide population‐based data set.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? This case–control study used data sourced from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database.
• ? The cases comprised 2899 patients with CRC and 14 995 randomly selected subjects as controls.
• ? We used conditional logistic regression to examine the association between CRC and previous diagnosis of CP/CPPS.

RESULTS

• ? Of the sampled patients, 531(3.05%) had been diagnosed with CP/CPPS before the index date, with 123 (4.24% of the patients with CRC) coming from the cases and 408 individuals (2.81% of patients without CRC) coming from the controls.
• ? Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that cases were more likely to have CP/CPPS than controls (odds ratio 1.45, 95% CI 1.17–1.79, P < 0.001) after adjusting for the monthly income, geographic location, urbanization level, hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, obesity and cystic kidney disease.
• ? In subgroup analysis, we found the magnitude of the association to be higher in subjects younger than 60 years (age 40–49, odds ratio 2.01; 95% CI 2.04–3.58 and aged 50–59, 2.40, 95% CI 1.48–3.87, both P < 0.001) than among other age groups.

CONCLUSION

• ? We conclude that CP/CPPS patients are at higher risk for CRC, especially in males under 60 years of age.

     

生物反馈和电刺激联合治疗慢性前列腺炎/慢性骨盆疼痛综合征

目的:通过临床试验的方法,探讨生物反馈和电刺激联合治疗慢性前列腺炎/慢性骨盆疼痛综合征(CP/CPPS)的效果。方法:收集湘雅医院门诊诊断为CP/CPPS符合研究标准患者140例。将患者随机分为对照组、生物反馈组、电刺激组和生物反馈加电刺激组;对照组20例,生物反馈组、电刺激组和生物反馈加电刺激组各40例。采用Laborie-Urostym生物反馈电刺激治疗仪,生物反馈组行生物反馈治疗,电刺激组行电刺激治疗,生物反馈加电刺激组行生物反馈电刺激治疗;每周5次,连续2周;对照组不予上述治疗,随诊1个月。治疗前后进行NIH-CPSI评分以及尿流率检查。结果:生物反馈组、电刺激组和生物反馈加电刺激组治疗后NIH-CPSI疼痛与不适评分、NIH-CPSI排尿症状评分、NIH-CPSI生活质量评分、NIH-CPSI总评分、最大尿流率较治疗前均有显著改善(P<0.05);治疗前各组积分及最大尿流率比较无显著差异(P>0.05);治疗后上述参数生物反馈组、电刺激组比较没有显著差异(P>0.05),生物反馈加电刺激组与生物反馈组、电刺激组比较有显著差异(P<0.05)。而对照组治疗前后的以上各组评分及最大尿流率比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:生物反馈和电刺激治疗能明显改善CP/CPPS患者疼痛与不适症状,排尿症状,提高生活质量,以及提高最大尿流率。生物反馈和电刺激联合治疗CP/CPPS有协同作用。     

Cryotherapy alleviates symptoms in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: The first results

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is an intractable disease. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of cryotherapy in the therapy of CP/CPPS. One hundred and seventy-two patients with CP/CPPS were randomised to receive cryotherapy or sham cryotherapy. The follow-up assessments were done at weeks 4, 12 and 24 using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and National Institutes of Health-developed Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. The per-protocol analysis was performed. Eighty-two patients in the cryotherapy group and 76 patients in the sham group completed the treatment. The most obvious improvement (67%) of the VAS was observed in the cryotherapy group after 4 weeks, and although the improvement slightly weakened by 24 weeks (62.6%), a significant improvement from the treatment remained apparent. IPSS improved by 75% after 4 weeks and remained stable after 24 weeks. The response rates were 78.0%, 73.2% and 70.1% at weeks 4, 12 and 24 in the cryotherapy group, which were higher than 17.1%, 13.2% and 10.5% in the sham group (each p < .001). These results indicated that cryotherapy could alleviate voiding symptoms, ameliorate pain and improve the quality of life in people with CP/CPPS. It holds promise as a novel strategy to treat CP/CPPS.     

前列腺液16s rDNA表达与慢性前列腺炎/慢性骨盆疼痛综合征疗效的关系

目的:探讨前列腺液16s rDNA的表达与慢性前列腺炎/慢性骨盆疼痛综合征(CP/CPPS,Ⅲ型前列腺炎)疗效的关系。方法:选择符合美国国立卫生研究院(NIH)诊断标准的CP/CPPS患者70例,其中Ⅲ_A型36例,Ⅲ_B型34例。门诊行前列腺液常规镜检和细菌、支原体,衣原体病原学检查,并对前列腺液中的16s rDNA进行PCR检测,参考病原学结果实施抗生素为主的综合治疗。以慢性前列腺炎症状指数(NIH-CPSI)为疗效指标进行治疗前后疗效比较。结果:CP/CPPS抗生素治疗组中,16s rDNA阳性者治疗显效率(81.4%)明显高于16s rDNA阴性者(63%)(P<0.01)。16s rDNA阴性的Ⅲ_A组总显效率较Ⅲ_B组低(P<0.05),而16s rDNA阳性的两组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:前列腺液16s rDNA的表达与CP/CPPS的疗效有相关性,16s rDNA的表达对前列腺炎的分型可能有一定参考意义。     

Mechanisms in prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

PURPOSE: We reviewed the current literature on mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review for the years 1966 to 2003 was performed using the MEDLINE database of the United States National Library of Medicine. RESULTS: National Institutes of Health categories I and II prostatitis result from identifiable prostatic infections, whereas patients with category IV are asymptomatic. The majority of symptomatic cases are category III or chronic prostatitis (CP)/CPPS. The etiology of CP/CPPS is unknown. The traditional marker of inflammation, namely white blood cells in prostatic fluids, does not correlate with the predominant symptom of pelvic pain. An imbalance toward increased proinflammatory and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines has been implicated and a few studies have shown some correlation of this with pelvic pain. The imbalance in some men may result from polymorphisms at the cytokine loci. An autoimmune process may be involved and experimental evidence indicates that this can be under hormonal influence. Recent findings include possible defects in the androgen receptor. The prostate may not even be the source of the symptoms. Pelvic pain also correlates with the neurotrophin nerve growth factor implicated in neurogenic inflammation and central sensitization. Finally, psychological stress may produce measurable biochemical changes and influence the other processes. The role of normal prostatic bacterial flora in inciting the inflammatory response has also been reconsidered. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms of CP/CPPS appear to result from an interplay between psychological factors and dysfunction in the immune, neurological and endocrine systems.     

Pollen extract for chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Prostatitis syndrome is a frequent condition in men. It is not known in most patients if the prostate is the only organ involved. Therefore, the disease is characterized as chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP-CPPS). Although many studies have been performed in patients with CP-CPPS, current trial evidence is conflicting and therapeutic options are controversial. Given the need for long-term treatment in CP-CPPS patients, phytotherapeutics, such as pollen extract, are an option due to few side effects. Preclinical studies on pollen extract have shown effects on smooth muscles of the bladder and urethra, strong antiinflammatory effects, and antiproliferative effects.     

Role of alpha blocker therapy in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: limited options with promising results

Chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (NIH-type II and type III prostatitis) are common cause of chronic pelvic pain. The exact etiology of these entities are unknown. They are associated with varying degree of voiding and sexual dysfunction. Consensus regarding treatment of these pain syndromes is lacking. Review of literature suggest a therapeutic role of alpha adrenergic receptor blockers in the management of NIH-type II and type III prostatitis. A trial of alpha-blocker is reasonably inexpensive and appropriate for most patients suffering from NIH-type III prostatitis and NIH-type II prostatitis. A general consensus is that if a patient agrees to a trial of alpha-blocker therapy which subsequently shows a good response then it should be continued for at least 6 months for a proper therapeutic effect. This review analyses the role of alpha-blockers in this disease/syndrome; discusses the possible mechanism of action through which these drugs provide relief and also highlights some of the important trials which have paved way for this particular treatment option in this intriguing disease /syndrome.