title: High frequency of chronic bacterial and non-inflammatory prostatitis in infertile patients with prostatitis syndrome plus irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although prostatitis syndrome (PS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common disorders, information on the prevalence of IBS in infertile patients with PS is relatively scanty. Therefore, this study was undertaken to estimate the frequency of PS and IBS and to evaluate the prevalence of the various diagnostic categories of prostatitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study enrolled 152 patients with PS, diagnosed by the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) in an andrological setting, and 204 patients with IBS, diagnosed according to the Rome III diagnostic criteria in a gastroenterological setting. The patients with PS were asked to fulfill the Rome III questionnaire for IBS, whereas patients with IBS were asked to complete the NIH-CPSI. The simultaneous presence of PS and IBS was observed in 30.2% and 31.8% of the patients screened by andrologists and gastroenterologists, respectively. Altogether, 111 patients had PS plus IBS (31.2%). They had a total NIH-CPSI and pain subscale scores significantly higher than patients with PS alone. Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with PS plus IBS were similar to those reported by patients with IBS alone and significantly greater in patients with PS alone. Patients with PS plus IBS had a significantly higher frequency of chronic bacterial prostatitis (category II) and lower of non-inflammatory prostatitis (category IIIB), compared to patients with PS alone. The frequency of inflammatory prostatitis (category IIIA) resulted similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prostatitis syndromes and IBS are frequently associated in patients with PS- or IBS-related symptoms. These patients have an increased prevalence of chronic bacterial and non-inflammatory prostatitis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Vignera
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arcoria
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Condorelli
authors.forename: Lucia O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangiameli
authors.forename: Aldo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calogero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology