A preliminary trial of extracorporeal shock waves for the treatment of IIIB chronic prostatitis

Abstract

Objective To assess the effect of extracorporeal shock waves(ESWs)as a treatment for ⅢB chronic prostatitis(CP).Methods Forty-six men with ⅢB CP were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=34)and a control group(n=12).The patients in experimental group received low energy ESW treatment,20000 impulses in 10 sessions over 2 weeks.The patients in control group received sham ESW treatment without shock waves energy under the same other conditions as in experimental group.Pain,urination and quality of life/impact were assessed with National Institutes of Health-chronic prostatitis symptom index(NIH-CPSI).Both groups were assessed at baseline,post-treatment and at a 4-week follow-up.Resuits The total NIH-CPSI scores,pain scores and quality of life/impact scores in experimental group decreased significantly post-treatment(P＜0.01),but urination scores did not(P＞0.05).Similar decreases of these scores were also found in control group post-treatment.The total NIH-CPSl scores and pain scores maintained at a lower level at the 4-week follow-up in experimental group,but the scores returned to the level as pre-treatment in control group.The effectiveness rates and prominent effectiveness rates in experimental group were significantly higher than those in control group post-treatment and at the 4-week follow-up(all P＜0.05). Conclusions ESWs was effective in the treatment for ⅢB CP.After ESWs treatment pain alleviated,symptoms reducea and quality of life improved. Key words: Extracorporeal shock waves; Chronic prostatitis; Pain; Treatment