Leukocytes and bacteria in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome compared to asymptomatic controls

PURPOSE

Chronic prostatitis has been traditionally characterized by inflammation and/or infection of the prostate gland, objectively categorized by white blood cells and cultured bacteria in prostate specific specimens. We compared leukocyte counts and localization rates for bacterial cultures of segmented urine samples (VB1, VB2, VB3), expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) and semen in men diagnosed with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) to men without pelvic pain (controls).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 463 men enrolled in the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort study and 121 age matched men without urinary symptoms had leukocyte counts performed and 5-day bacterial cultures on specimens obtained from a standard 4-glass test (VB1, VB2, EPS, VB3) and semen. All risk factor comparisons between case and control analyses were tested using generalized Mantel-Haenszel methods, and multivariable models were developed using logistic regression methods, adjusting for clustering by clinical center within both methods.

RESULTS

Men with CP/CPPS had statistically higher leukocyte counts in all segmented urine samples and EPS, but not in semen compared to asymptomatic control men. However, the control population also had a high prevalence of leukocytes. Of the men with CP/CPPS 50% and 32% had 5 or more, or 10 or more white blood cells (WBCs) per high power field, respectively, in EPS compared to 40% and 20% of the control population. Similarly, 32% and 14% of the patients with CP/CPPS had 5 or more, or 10 or more WBCs per high power field in VB3 compared to 19% and 11% in the control population. Localization of uropathogenic bacteria in EPS, VB3 and/or semen was similar in men with CP/CPPS (8.0%) and asymptomatic men (8.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Men with CP/CPPS have significantly higher leukocyte counts in all segmented urine samples and EPS but not in semen as compared to controls. There is no difference in rates of localization of bacterial cultures for men with CP/CPPS compared to control men. The high prevalence of WBCs and positive bacterial cultures in the asymptomatic control population raises questions about the clinical usefulness of the standard 4-glass test as a diagnostic tool in men with CP/CPPS.

[Psychophysiological characteristics of patients with chronic prostatitis]

The aim of the study was to characterize mental changes in chronic prostatitis (CP) patients after the addition of a combination of local and central reflex physiotherapeutic factors to combined treatment 149 patients with infectious and noninfectious CP entered the study. The study group (n = 94) received combined treatment including physiotherapeutic factors (ANDRO-GIN unit). The control group (n = 55) received standard CP therapy. All the patients have undergone clinical, laboratory, device and psychophysiological examinations. Thus, addition of physiotherapy to combined treatment of CP raises the treatment efficacy and promotes optimization of "an internal picture of illness"--one of major characteristics of the patient's psychological condition.

[Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis: 4 or 2 glass sample?]

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is still an important clinical problem. The NIH-prostatitis classification introduced 1998 for diagnosis and treatment measures is based on extended microbiological analysis of urine, expressed prostate secretion (4-glass test), and ejaculate. We investigated if a simple urine analysis of an urine sample before and after prostatic massage (2-glass test) could replace the 4-glass test. 143 patients with the diagnosis chronic prostatitis were included in this prospective study. The results showed that the expensive and time consuming 4-glass test can be replaced by a simple 2-glass test. Extended examinations should only be performed in special cases.

Pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin as a tool to optimise dosage schedules in community patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the dosage regimens of ciprofloxacin prescribed for outpatients by applying the principles of antibacterial therapy.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prescription and demographic data.

SETTING

Community pharmacy in Valladolid, Spain.

PATIENTS

Fifty male and female patients aged 18-93 years and with bodyweight 41-95kg.

METHODS

Prescribed dosage regimen, age, weight, height, type of infection, comorbidity and coadministered drugs were recorded for each patient. Plasma concentration curves were simulated from literature values of the pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug and the age and weight of the patients. Urine concentrations were estimated from simulated plasma concentrations, literature values of renal clearance and an average urinary flow rate of 2 L/day. The potential efficacy of the prescribed treatment was evaluated from the ratio of the simulated peak plasma concentration (C(max)) to the literature value of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the bacterium most probably responsible for the infection (C(max) /MIC). The ratio of area under the plasma concentration-time curve over 24 hours to MIC (AUC24 /MIC) was also estimated for non-urinary infections.

RESULTS

Demographic variables such as age or bodyweight do not seem to be taken in consideration when ciprofloxacin is prescribed, at least in the patients considered here, leading to wide interindividual variability in plasma concentrations. This may not be relevant for urinary infections, since ciprofloxacin concentrates in the urine, leading to high Cmax /MIC ratios in all patients. Simulated plasma concentration-time curves revealed consistent underdosing for systemic infections in young patients over 60kg, for whom the plasma concentrations achieved led to Cmax /MIC and AUC24 /MIC ratios lower than those associated with clinical efficacy and minimal spread of bacterial resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

The standard regimen of ciprofloxacin 250mg every 12 hours prescribed for urinary infections may not be the best choice, since a more convenient regimen of 500mg once daily leads to a higher Cmax /MIC ratio, which is associated with a more significant postantibiotic effect and higher efficacy of fluoroquinolones. For non-urinary infections, the age and weight of patients should be taken into account to achieve optimum plasma concentrations.

Urinary plasma protein patterns in acute prostatitis

We evaluated the diagnostic utility of urinary alpha1-microglobulin, alpha2-macroglobulin and albumin in the diagnosis of acute prostatitis. We studied 133 men (43 +/- 17 years) with, and a reference population (n=36, 41 +/- 16 years) without, urinary tract infection. Prostatectomy samples were used to study the potential interference between prostatic proteins and protein analysis. Urinary alpha2-macroglobulin/albumin ratio was significantly lower in prostatitis compared to the reference population, cystitis or acute pyelonephritis (p < 0.0001). Low alpha2-macroglobulin concentrations in prostatitis are due to inhibition (p = 0.0001) of the immune reaction between alpha2-macroglobulin in presence of polyclonal rabbit antibodies (used for immunonephelometry) by soluble prostatic proteins (+/- 60 kDa) which appear in urine in acute prostatitis. The urinary alpha1-microglobulin/creatinine ratio diagnoses acute pyelonephritis (sensitivity 100% and specificity 87%) and the urinary alpha2-macroglobulin/albumin ratio diagnoses acute prostatitis (sensitivity 100% and specificity of 90%). Stepwise multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals that urinary alpha1-microglobulin, alpha2-macroglobulin, albumin and creatinine provide optimal differentiation between acute pyelonephritis and acute prostatitis (pseudo R2=0.83; Loglikelihood -30.55, p < 0.000001). In conclusion, the combination of hematuria and absence of urinary alpha-2-macroglobulin is diagnostic for acute prostatitis. Even without hematuria, alpha2-macroglobulin remains lower compared to patients without prostatitis.

Symptoms and inflammation in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the possibility that patients with inflammatory and noninflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) might present with different symptoms. Patients with CP/CPPS present with characteristic symptoms without bacteriuria. The new National Institutes of Health consensus suggests that CP/CPPS can be divided into inflammatory and noninflammatory categories.

METHODS

Standardized symptom surveys were completed by 130 subjects who met the criteria for CP/CPPS after clinical examination and urethral, urine, expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), and seminal fluid analysis evaluations.

RESULTS

When classified by either EPS or postprostatic massage urine (VB3) findings, subjects with and without inflammation had similar symptoms. However, when classified using the combination of EPS, VB3, and seminal fluid analysis, subjects with inflammatory CP/CPPS had more severe (P <0.02) and more frequent symptoms, in particular, difficulty reaching erection (P <0.01), weak urinary stream (P <0.01), urinary frequency (P = 0.03), and penile pain (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The increased severity and frequency of symptoms among patients with inflammatory CP/CPPS provide empirical support for the new consensus classification on the basis of the combination of EPS, VB3, and seminal fluid analysis findings.

Cytologic evaluation of urine is important in evaluation of chronic prostatitis

OBJECTIVES

Cytologic examination of the urine has not been a recommended part of the diagnostic workup for patients presenting with chronic prostatitis. We identified 3 patients referred to our tertiary Prostatitis Research Clinic who had carcinoma in situ of the bladder discovered after evaluation of urine cytology.

METHODS

One hundred fifty consecutive patients referred to the Queen's University Prostatitis Clinic during 2000 and 2001 underwent extensive evaluation, including collection of urine specimen for cytologic examination if they also had symptoms compatible with interstitial cystitis (urinary frequency, urgency, and suprapubic pain).

RESULTS

Three patients, who were referred to our tertiary prostatitis clinic after being evaluated and treated by other urologists for an average of 3.5 years for chronic prostatitis, were eventually diagnosed with carcinoma in situ of the bladder. The patients were older than the average patient referred to our specialized clinic (average age 61 years compared with 42 years for the average patient). All 3 patients complained of pain (suprapubic and/or perineal) and irritative voiding symptoms, and 2 had dysuria. Only 1 of these patients had microscopic hematuria.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend that urine cytology become a diagnostic test for men presenting with prostatitis-like symptoms, particularly if the symptom complex includes irritative voiding symptoms, dysuria, and suprapubic/bladder pain.

Seminal secretory capacity of the male accessory sex glands in chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)/chronic prostatitis with special focus on the new prostatitis classification

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the secretory dysfunction of the male accessory glands in men with inflammatory versus non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

METHODS

One hundred and twelve consecutive patients symptomatic for chronic pelvic pain were included into the study. All underwent a combined granulocyte analysis in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) and a four-glass-test followed by ejaculate analysis. Patients were subgrouped according to elevated granulocyte counts in prostatic secretions, leukocytes in semen, or any of both. The content/total enzyme activity of the secretory seminal plasma parameters gamma-glutamyl-transferase (gamma-GT), fructose, and alpha-glucosidase representing the secretory capacity of the prostate gland, the seminal vesicles, and the epididymes, respectively, were investigated.

RESULTS

The only significant findings were a reduced total enzyme activity of gamma-GT in men stratified according to elevated granulocyte counts in prostatic secretions (p=0.022; cutpoint 9.85U per ejaculate; sensitivity 61.1%, specificity 58.8%, AUC 0.6347) and in men with any inflammatory sign (p=0.033; cutpoint 9.9U per ejaculate, sensitivity 63%, specificity 58.33%, AUC 0.6404).

CONCLUSIONS

Secretory damage of the prostate gland in men with inflammatory CPPS is demonstrable provided that increased granulocytes in prostatic secretions are part of the diagnostic criteria. However, because of the low sensitivity and specificity of gamma-GT it cannot be recommended as diagnostic tool to detect inflammatory disease on the basis of reduced secretory capacity.

Predictors of patient response to antibiotic therapy for the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a prospective multicenter clinical trial

PURPOSE

To our knowledge antibiotics are the most popular choice of therapy for all categories of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We determine if culture, leukocyte and/or antibody status of prostate specific specimens predicts patient response to antibiotic therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients clinically diagnosed with the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) definition had a lower urinary tract evaluation that included standard microscopy and culture of prostate specific specimens, and determination of the ratio of voided bladder 3 and voided bladder 2 antibody levels against a panel of identified prostate pathogens (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methodology). Symptom evaluation consisted of the NIH chronic prostatitis symptom index (derived) pain scale 0 to 21, symptom severity index scale 0 to 100, symptom frequency questionnaire scale 0 to 50 and quality of life scale 0 to 6. Patients were stratified according to microscopy, culture and immune status, were treated with 12 weeks of ofloxacin, and were assessed at 4, 12 and 24 weeks with symptom scores as well as global assessments.

RESULTS

Based on leukocyte and culture results, 102 evaluable patients were stratified into categories II (14%), IIIA (48%) and IIIB (38%) of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Of the cases 23% were categorized as antibody positive and 77% as antibody negative. Average age was 42 +/- 10 years and 92% of patients were white. Of the patients 57% believed that they had moderate to marked improvement. All categories of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and patients in whom antibody was positive or negative had significant improvement in the NIH chronic prostatitis symptom index, symptom severity index, symptom frequency questionnaire and quality of life scores compared with baseline (p <0.001). There was no significant difference in patient response to the stratification based on culture, leukocyte, that is categories II, IIIA and IIIB had same beneficial response, or antibody status.

CONCLUSIONS

Culture, leukocyte and antibody status of prostate specific specimens does not predict antibiotic response in patients with the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The perceived beneficial effect of antibiotics needs to be evaluated in a randomized placebo controlled trial.

Urinary tissue factor levels in patients with bladder and prostate cancer

AIMS

Coagulation activation is a recognized complication of cancer in which increased tissue factor (TF) is implicated. TF can be detected in urine (uTF). This study assesses uTF levels in benign and malignant urological disease and correlates the results with conventional markers of tumour progression.

METHODS

Using a simple and reproducible kinetic chromogenic assay, we determined uTF levels in controls (normal volunteers (n = 57) and patients with renal stones (n = 30)), benign and malignant bladder (n = 75) or prostate (n = 106) disease and in patients with or without recurrent bladder cancer (n=30). Each benign disease group was stratified as inflammatory (cystitis or prostatitis) or non-inflammatory (negative cystoscopy following haematuria or benign prostatic hypertrophy).

RESULTS

The controls and the benign non-inflammatory results were indistinguishable. The malignant and inflammatory groups showed raised uTF levels over controls (P<0.001 bladder and P<0.01 prostate). The difference between malignant and benign inflammatory disease was only significant for the bladder group. uTF levels were significantly related to histological tumour grading, prostate serum specific antigen, static bone scan images and recurrence status.

CONCLUSIONS

uTF levels can distinguish, statistically but not without overlap, patients with malignancy from normal controls and benign non-inflammatory conditions. Discrimination between inflammatory and malignant disease has only been demonstrated in the bladder. uTF levels showed a significant association with markers of tumour progression or metastasis and may be useful in predicting bladder tumour recurrence.

Comparison of expressed prostatic secretions with urine after prostatic massage--a means to diagnose chronic prostatitis/inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To compare the analysis of urine after prostatic massage (VB3) with expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) to assess the significance of leukocyte analysis in VB3 and to give a first hint of the diagnosis of inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) when EPS cannot be obtained.

METHODS

Three hundred twenty-eight men (mean age 38 years, range 18 to 70) with expressible prostatic secretions were investigated. EPS were stained using the Papanicolaou stain and analyzed for leukocytes per high power field (HPF) (x1000). Additionally, identical aliquots of first voided urine (VB1), midstream urine (VB2), and VB3 were centrifuged, stained (Papanicolaou), and analyzed for leukocytes (x400). Patients with increased numbers of leukocytes in VB1 and VB2 (2 or more per x400) were excluded. For statistical analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient for nonparametric tests was used.

RESULTS

Of 180 men with less than 10 leukocytes per HPF in EPS, 178 (98.9%) had less than 10 leukocytes per view field in VB3. In 148 men with 10 or more leukocytes per HPF in EPS, 136 (91.9%) also had elevated leukocyte counts in VB3. The presence of elevated leukocytes in VB3 predicted the presence of increased leukocytes in EPS with a high certainty: 91.9% sensitivity, 98.9% specificity, and 95.7% accuracy, with a positive and negative predictive value of 98.6% and 93.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the determination of leukocytes in VB3 is a feasible and reliable method compared with the analysis of EPS. However, although this association does not directly prove the significance of VB3 in those patients from whom no EPS can be obtained, we suggest this method be taken into account as an indirect indicator in the diagnosis of inflammation.

Detecting urethral and prostatic inflammation in patients with chronic prostatitis

OBJECTIVES

Diagnosis of urethral and prostatic inflammation can represent a challenge. We compare the accuracy of diagnostic methods for detecting inflammation in lower urinary specimens/samples.

METHODS

A standardized protocol was used to evaluate urethral smear, first-void urine (VB1), midstream urine (VB2), expressed prostatic secretions (EPS), and postmassage urine (VB3) in urologic patients with no symptoms or signs of urethritis who were attending our prostatitis clinic.

RESULTS

Of 235 subjects, 60 (26%) had leukocytes detected by the Gram-stained urethral smear, 44 (18%) by the VB1, and only 14 (6%) by the VB2. Compared with the urethral swab, VB1 had 0% to 22% sensitivity and 81% to 98% specificity, and VB2 had 8% to 11% sensitivity. Of 83 subjects with prostatic inflammation, the EPS detected 63 (76%) and the VB3 detected 68 (82%).

CONCLUSIONS

VB1 or VB2 examinations had low sensitivity for detecting urethral inflammation. Examining both the EPS and VB3 proved best for detecting prostatic fluid inflammation. Combining the urethral smear with lower urinary tract localization ("four-glass test") represents an optimal approach for detecting urethral and prostatic inflammation.

Urinary alpha 1-microglobulin detects uropathy. A prospective study in 483 urological patients

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to evaluate prospectively urinary alpha 1-microglobulin as a marker of proximal tubular damage following acute pyelonephritis and outflow disease of the upper urinary tract in a urological population with minimal exclusion criteria. We also measured the urinary gamma-glutamyltransferase activity, urinary albumin, urinary and serum creatinine, serum IgA and serum alpha 1-microglobulin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied 483 urological patients (age: 1 to 92 years, 297 men, 186 women) excluding patients receiving nephrotoxic drugs, or suffering from type 1 diabetes or renal diseases. There were 141 patients with urinary tract infection but no fever, 36 patients with high fever of non-renal origin, 51 patients with acute pyelonephritis and 156 patients with outflow disease of the upper tract, and 99 patients were included in the reference population.

RESULTS

For acute pyelonephritis, vesico-ureteral reflux, and ureteral obstruction, urinary alpha 1-microglobulin had a sensitivity of 94%, 90% and 63% respectively and a specificity of 67%, 77% and 76%. The area under the curve of the receiver operator characteristic curve was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for urinary alpha 1-microglobulin than for albumin or gamma-glutamyltransferase activity. Unexpected positive results were found in acute prostatitis. The urinary alpha 1-microglobulin was the only parameter which differentiated between acute prostatitis and pyelonephritis (p < 0.001). Creatinine clearance or age had little and gender had no influence on the urinary excretion of alpha 1-microglobulin. Urine production rate significantly increases the urinary alpha 1-microglobulin/creatinine ratio.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the urinary alpha 1-microglobulin/creatinine ratio is a diagnostically useful marker of tubular damage in acute pyelonephritis and vesico-ureteral reflux in the urological population. Following renal colic and chronic ureteral obstruction, a significant increase in urinary alpha 1-microglobulin excretion was observed.

The Pre and Post Massage Test (PPMT): a simple screen for prostatitis

The segmented quantitative culture technique originally described more than 25 years ago is acknowledged as the best test to diagnose prostatitis. However, it, is not widely used in clinical practice. This is especially true in primary care settings, but even most urologists appear to have abandoned the procedure. Herein is proposed a simple and cost-effective screen for prostatitis, which involves the culture and microscopic examination of urine before and after prostatic massage. This Pre and Post Massage Test (PPMT) was applied to a personal series of 53 patients and 59 patients from the literature in whom the results of the segmented cultures are available and the results were reevaluated. In this selected patient population the PPMT alone led to the same diagnosis in 102 (91.1%). Within the expected limitations of this retrospective review, the calculated sensitivity and specificity of the PPMT were both 91%. This report should provoke researchers to review their prostatitis data, stimulate discussion, and hopefully convince physicians that adoption of a simpler diagnostic plan for prostatitis is far superior to doing no workup at all.

[Diagnostic value of Stamey's test in chronic prostatitis]

OBJECTIVES

Analysis and technical details of Staomey's fractionated urine cultures, the reference method for the evaluation and bacteriological diagnosis of chronic bacterial prostatitis, but the application of which has been rarely described in the literature.

METHOD

Stamey's test is based on comparative analysis of urine samples representative of the urethra, bladder and prostatic secretions obtained by prostatic massage. This method allows the demonstration of bacteria in the urine or prostatic secretions in the presence of bacterial prostatitis, in contra with non-bacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia. The sampling conditions require a sufficiently full bladder and the samples must be collected according to rigorously sterile procedure. The first step of the examination must not be preceded by urethral swabbing and the urine samples must have a well defined volume. Prostatic secretions are obtained by a prolonged massage of each lobe of the prostate gland.

RESULTS

Bacterial prostatitis is confirmed by the presence of bacteria in the prostatic secretions and U3 in numbers largely exceeding the bacterial counts of the other samples. In the case of lower urinary tract infection, the test must be repeated after disinfection of the bladder urine. The pathogenic role of Gram positive bacteria is confirmed by isolation of a high bacterial count on several occasions. The pathogenic role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydiae trachomatis is more controversial, while the role of Trichomonas vaginalis is unlikely and fungal prostatitis is very rare. Semen culture is less reliable than Stamey's test in the diagnosis of prostatitis.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of chronic prostatitis is difficult due to the absence of typical clinical symptoms, specific ultrasonographic signs and the sometimes difficult interpretation of the culture results. Stamey's test is a reference diagnostic examination provided it is performed according to a rigorous methodology.

Ureaplasma urealyticum in the urogenital tract of patients with chronic prostatitis or related symptomatology

To elucidate the role of Ureaplasma urealyticum as a causative organism in chronic prostatitis we investigated its incidence in the urogenital tract in 131 chronic prostatitis patients and 120 prostatodynia patients; the presence of common bacteria or Chlamydia trachomatis was also recorded. According to the 4-glass localisation test, U. urealyticum (> or = 10(3) ccu/ml) was isolated from the prostates of 16 prostatitis patients and 2 prostatodynia patients; 5 of these prostatitis patients (but neither of the prostatodynia patients) had other bacteria in specimens after prostatic massage. Thus U. urealyticum was the sole organism isolated from the prostates of 11 prostatitis and 2 prostatodynia patients, which suggests that it is an aetiological agent in some cases of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

Value of urine cytology in screening patients with prostatitis syndromes

We reviewed the results of urine cytology examination of 206 patients with a diagnosis of prostatitis syndromes in the period 1985-1991. The urine samples showed an incidence of 20.4% for slight to moderate atypia and 6.3% for severe atypia. In these patients, cystoscopy, bladder biopsies and intravenous urography were performed to exclude malignancies. In only 6 of the 13 patients with severe atypia of the urine cytology were malignancies found. In cases of malignancy, the ages of the patients ranged from 51 to 64 years (mean, 58.6), and they complained most frequently of irritative bladder symptoms. In these patients, urinalysis frequently showed leukocyturia, and in all the samples, erythrocyturia was found.

Prostatitis--an increasing clinical problem for diagnosis and management

Prostatitis remains a challenging condition. The clinical features are often nonspecific while the aetiology and pathogenesis can be diverse and includes inflammatory, obstructive, and/or chemical causes and may also be related to calculi. Four categories are recognized: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, non-bacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia. The diagnosis of prostatitis was advanced substantially by the introduction of sequential sampling of urine aliquots following prostatic massage. Bacterial prostatitis is largely associated with the Enterobacteriaceae although Pseudomonas spp., enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus may also be isolated. In chronic bacterial prostatitis a variety of streptococci and anaerobic bacteria may be isolated. Treatment is difficult largely owing to the limited range of agents able to achieve therapeutic concentrations within prostatic fluid, which has a pH lower than that of plasma. Trimethroprim, co-trimoxazole and the tetracyclines have been widely used. The quinolones have recently been shown to diffuse readily into the prostate; ofloxacin and temafloxacin have produced the highest concentrations in prostatic fluid. Antibiotic treatment requires prolonged high dosage and careful monitoring to ensure that bacterial eradication has occurred. Other forms of management have included the judicious use of anti-inflammatory agents and analgesics. In some patients zinc sulphate has proved to be of symptomatic benefit.

Prostatitis--clinical and bacterial studies

Forty men with clinical prostatitis were studied to determine the value of symptomatology and categorization and 30 (75%) were classified as having prostatitis on the basis of prostatic localization studies. Of these 3 (10%) had chronic bacterial prostatitis, 18 (60%) had chronic abacterial prostatitis, and 9 (30%) had prostatodynia. No patient had acute bacterial prostatitis. Although Enterobacteriaciae were isolated from the 3 men with chronic bacterial prostatitis, these bacteria along with Staphlococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, and Chlamydia trachomatis were isolated from a further 6 patients. The mean pH of the expressed prostatic secretion was measured for each group and was found to be 7.6 for those with chronic bacterial prostatitis, 7.1 for chronic abacterial prostatitis, 6.5 for prostatodynia, and 6.9 for those with urethritis suggesting that this test may be of value in the diagnosis of chronic bacterial prostatitis.

MICs of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim for Escherichia coli: influence of pH, inoculum size and various body fluids

The influence of pH, inoculum size, human urine and prostatic extract on the MICs of ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim for Escherichia coli was investigated. There was no influence by the bacterial inoculum size within wide ranges on either drug. An increase in pH had a variable influence on the MICs of trimethoprim for E. coli but lowered those of ciprofloxacin considerably. Human prostatic extract increased the trimethoprim MIC for E. coli but lowered those of ciprofloxacin as compared to Mueller Hinton broth. Human urine increased the MICs of both drugs for E. coli.

[Therapy with inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis in refractory prostatic carcinoma. An experimental and clinical study]

Transplantable prostate adenocarcinoma were treated with polyamine biosynthetic inhibitors. alpha-difluoromethylornithine (alpha-DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase and by s-methylglyoxal-bisguanylhydrazone (MGBG), an inhibitor of s-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. The therapeutic regimen of 0.8-1.11 g/kg DFMO reduced the tumor growth by 40% whilst the combination with 10.5 mg/kg MGBG completely destroyed the prostate adenocarcinomas in the tumor-bearing animals. The polyamine content of spermidine and spermine in the cancerous tissues is significantly lower whereas the putrescine levels remain unchanged. The MGBG therapy distinctly stimulates the activity of ornithine decarboxylase and increases the putrescine concentration up to toxic levels. The application of alpha-DFMO prevented the toxic accumulation of putrescine and allowed higher doses of MGBG. Clinical trials with polyamine antimetabolites appeared useful due to pathological polyamine excretion of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. The therapy with 0.2-0.3 g/kg DFMO in patients with hormone-resistent prostate cancer and metastasis displayed a moderate anti-tumor activity following 2 months additional treatment. High levels of side effects, however, were registered and were similar to those of other cytotoxic compounds. A combined therapy with DFMO/MGBG in a patient with metastatic anaplastic prostate cancer did not improve the survival rate but showed regressive effects of the histological pattern.

Zinc in post prostatic massage (VB3) urine samples: a marker of prostatic secretory function and indicator of bacterial infection

The value of biochemical examination of post-prostatic massage (VB3) urine samples has been investigated. Measurement of zinc levels provides a good marker of prostatic secretory function. In the absence of prostatic carcinoma findings of greater or equal to 100 micrograms zinc in VB3 urines is strong evidence (2% false negatives) of an absence of infectious or inflammatory prostatic disease. Less than 40 micrograms of zinc is suggestive (14% false positives) of prostatitis. There is little need to consider the endogenous urinary zinc levels. This simple test should be of particular value in cases where an expressed prostatic secretion is not obtained (about 40% of this series of patients), when it would be a valuable adjunct to cytological and bacteriological examination of split urine samples.