OBJECTIVESTo discuss the correlation of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in the EPS of chronic prostatitis (CP) patients with CP types, WBC count in EPS, lecithin corpuscles (LLZXT) and chronic prostatitis symptom index (CPSI).

METHODSAccording to the NIH classification standard, 196 cases of CP were diagnosed by the pro and post massage test (PPMT) and EPS routine, of which 68 were chronic bacterial prostatitis (Type II ), 76 inflammatory chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (Type III A) and 52 non-inflammatory chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pain syndrome (Type III B). Another 50 healthy volunteers were enrolled as normal controls. The CRP concentration in the EPS of all the patients was determined by immunoturbidimetry and 196 groups of data were obtained.

RESULTSThe average concentration of CRP was significantly higher in the CP group ( [2.945 +/- 1.996] mg/L) than in the control ( [1.101 +/- 0.440] mg/L) (P < 0. 01) , and it decreased progressively from the Type II to Type III A and Type III B group, with statistical difference between Type III B and Type II or Type III A (P < 0. 01 ), but not between Type II and Type III A (P = 0.058). The CRP concentration was correlated negatively with LLZXT (r = -0.33, P < 0.01) and positively with WBC count (r = 0.63, P < 0.01) and the score on the first 6 items of CPSI (r = 0. 28, P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONThe CRP concentration in EPS, with its significant role in the pathogenesis of CP, may serve as a basis for the diagnosis and classification of CP as well as an objective index for assessing the therapeutic effect on the disease.