The associations between prostatitis-like symptoms and serum level of immunoglobulin

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between serum level of immunoglobulin and prostatitis-like symptoms. Methods Data were collected from the People's Hospital of Laiwu City and Shandong provincial Qianfoshan Hospital(Random sampling)from June 2012 to November 2012, and 1500 subjects were included finally.Data on demographic characteristics and lifestyle characteristics were collected using a standardized questionnaire.Blood samples were obtained,and serum levels of immunoglobulin G(IgG), immunoglobulin A(Ig A) and immunoglobulin M(Ig M) were measured.Prostatitis-like symptoms were defined based upon the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI).The statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 13. 0. Results The prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms was 10. 1% in our study.After adjustments for potential confounding factors(age, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity and education)in the logistic regression model, with increased level of Ig A, the higher risk of moderate and severe prostatitis-like symptoms[odds ratio(OR)= 1. 61, 95% confidence interval(CI):1. 09-2. 38;OR= 1. 90,95% CI:1. 30-2. 78] could be observed.In addition, the highest Ig A significantly increased the pain symptoms(OR= 1. 89,95% CI:1. 13-3. 13)and voiding symptoms(OR= 2. 16, 95% CI:1. 36-3. 45). However, there was no statistically significant correlations between serum IgG and Ig M levels with overall prostatitis-like symptoms or individual symptoms. Conclusion Prostatitis-like symptoms are a common disease in adult men.The relationship between elevated serum Ig A levels and increased odds of moderate or severe symptoms indicates that immune response may participate in the etiology of chronic prostatitis. Key words: Serum of immunoglobulin; National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index; Prostatitis-like symptoms