title: Effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with category IIIB chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a report of 97 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is of significant interest in urology and unfortunately, the therapy modalities recommended are not fully effective. Therefore, we undertook a pilot study to determine whether acupuncture improves the pain, voiding symptoms, and quality of life in men with category IIIB CP/CPPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, one-group trial, cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient urology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven CP/CPPS patients received six sessions of acupuncture to the BL-33 acupoints once a week. The National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was completed by each patient before and after the treatment and on 12th and 24th weeks following the treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean values of total CPSI score, pain subscore, urinary subscore, and quality of life subscore after the treatment and on follow-up after the treatment were compared with the baseline values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant decrease in all of the subscores evaluated at all periods compared with the baseline. Eighty-six patients out of 93 (92.47%) were NIH-CPSI responders (more than 50% decrease in total NIH-CPSI score from baseline) at the end of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that acupuncture appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment in improving the symptoms and quality of life of men clinically diagnosed with CP/CPPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tugcu
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bedirhan
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tasci
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult