title: Long-term results of multimodal therapy for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a prevalent and multifactorial condition. Many patients have the condition for years despite conventional therapies. We assess the outcomes of multimodal therapy in patients with long-standing chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 53 patients with chronic prostatitis treated at our clinic with a minimum followup of 6 months were assessed by the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index and by a global assessment score. Treatments included antibiotics, prostatic massage, anti-inflammatory phytotherapy, alpha-blockers and neuromuscular agents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age patient was 45 years and median symptom history was 3.5 years. Based on localizing cultures, and microscopy of urine and prostatic fluid 13% of the cases were category II, 41% were category IIIa and 46% were category IIIb. Mean followup from the last visit was 417 days (range 185 to 1,247). Mean changes +/- SE from the initial to the final score on the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index were 10.4 +/- 3.3 to 5.9 +/- 4.4 for pain, 4.2 +/- 2.9 to 2.0 +/- 2.7 for urinary, 8.2 +/- 2.9 to 4.7 +/- 3.4 for quality of life and 22.7 +/- 6.6 to 13.2 +/- 9.5 for total score (p <0.0001). Based on a global subjective assessment 43 of the patients (80%) were better, 8 were the same and 3 were worse. At final assessment 39% of the patients were on no therapy, 22% were on an alpha-blocker, 37% were on quercetin, 13% were on neuromuscular agents and 9% were on antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An approach using stepwise therapy with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and neuromuscular agents can be successful in the majority of patients with long-standing chronic prostatitis.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston and Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shoskes
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghoniem
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies