INTERRELATIONS OF PROSTATITIS SYMPTOMS, DEPRESSION AND EJACULATE CYTOKINES IN CHRONIC ABACTERIAL PROSTATITIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction Comorbid depression and chronic pain are highly prevalent in patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP) having Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Prostate Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) perhaps due to cytokines. Methods Interrelation of symptoms, depression and cytokines in patients with CAP was studied. To assess severity of CP/CPPS the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) was used. To assess depression the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used. Levels of cytokines -Interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-8 in semen were assessed by ELISA (Diaclon, DRG, Ukrmedservice). All patients (n=81) with CAP aged 19 to 38 years received treatment with rectal electrostimulation every other day for 10 sessions lasting 15 minutes each. Patients in Group 1 (n=42) additionally received oral Sertraline with an initial dose of 50 mg gradually increased to 200 mg for 1 month. Patients in Group 2 (n=39) received basic treatment only. Results Both Groups 1 and Groups 2 after treatment had significant (p Conclusions Greatest effectiveness occurred with rectal electrostimulation and anti-depressant treatment of CAP, including increases in anti- inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a link between depression and cytokine responses in CP/CPPS patients.