OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of the combined therapy of medication with local hyperthermia with that of the simple local hyperthermia therapy in the treatment of pain symptoms of chronic prostatitis (CP).

METHODSSeventy-six CP patients aged 18-48 (mean 29.2 +/- 3.8) years, with the disease course of 3.5-180 (mean 8.0 +/- 1.2) months and NIH-CPSI pain score > or = 14, were equally randomized into a treatment group and a control. The former was treated by applying the CRS-2280E extraorgan short-wave capacitance field hyperthermia system to the prostate once an hour every other day for 7 times, combined with anal administration of 1 Qianliean suppository and oral doxazosin 4 mg before bedtime every night for 2 weeks, while the latter underwent simple local hyperthermia. All the patients were scored on NIH-CPSI and the therapeutic results were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe pre- and post-treatment NIH-CPSI scores were (23.9 +/- 3.8) and (5.2 +/- 3.1) (P < 0.01) in the treatment goup and (24.5 +/- 4.3) and (11.6 +/- 3.4) (P < 0.01) in the control; the pre- and post-treatment scores on NIH-CPSI pain symptoms were (16.5 +/- 1.9) and (3.1 +/- 2.2) (P < 0.01) in the former and (15.9 +/- 1.7) and (8.2 +/- 2.0) (P < 0.01) in the latter. The total score on NIH-CPSI and that on NIH-CPSI pain symptoms were both significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control (P < 0.01). Within the treatment group, the score on NIH-CPSI pain symptoms was even more significantly improved in patients with the first attacks than in those already treated by other means (P < 0.01). No adverse effects were observed in either of the groups.

CONCLUSIONBoth the combined therapy of medication with local hyperthermia and simple local hyperthermia are effective, safe and tolerable in the treatment of CP pain symptoms, and the former is even more desirable, particularly for those with the first attacks of the symptoms.