title: Assessing chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients: blood plasma factors and cortisol saliva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify changes in inflammatory molecules in the blood (plasma) of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic syndrome (CP/CPPS) compared with controls. Altered levels indicate a systemic component by possible involvement of the prostate and/or the inner pelvic floor musculature.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 32 patients with CP/CPPS and 37 controls, blood plasma levels of testosterone, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF-β, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-1β were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cortisol in saliva samples was measured in the morning and late evening. All participants answered a questionnaire regarding their health profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher levels of MIF (p = 0.012) were detected in patients. The testosterone level was, contrary to other studies, little lower in patients (p = 0.014; age adjusted). When controls with health issues and patients with a parallel disease were excluded, the MIF and TNF-α levels were higher in the patients (p = 0.007, p = 0.016, respectively) than in controls, and the testosterone was slightly lower in patients (p = 0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings show an immune response extending to the circulatory system, in which MIF makes a significant contribution to CP/CPPS. This study also indicates TNF-α as a circulatory component when excluding subjects with concomitant diseases. Both MIF and TNF-α have previously been highlighted for other diseases related to chronic pain and here also for CP/CPPS. These results provide further insights into the immunological basis of CP/CPPS.
authors: Systems Biology Research Center, School of Life Sciences, University of Skövde , Skövde , Sweden.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Lundh
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Hedelin
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Jonsson
authors: Mervyn
authors: M
authors: Gifford
authors: Dennis
authors: D
authors: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000097:blood; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000097:blood*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000097:blood*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013577:Syndrome; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013739:Testosterone; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human; D006854:Hydrocortisone