Effectiveness of acupuncture on chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome category IIIB patients: a prospective, randomized, nonblinded, clinical trial

Urology. 2015 Mar;85(3):636-40. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2014.11.004. Epub 2015 Jan 9.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the acupuncture treatment and the medical treatment with antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on pain control, urinary symptoms, and quality of life of category IIIB chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP-CPPS).

Methods: From November 2008 to May 2009, 54 male patients with category IIIB CP-CPPS were randomly divided into 2 groups: the medical treatment group (group 1, n = 28) and the acupuncture treatment group (group 2, n = 26). Group 1 took levofloxacin 500 mg daily and ibuprofen 200 mg twice a day for 6 weeks. In the acupuncture group (group 2), bilateral BL32 (Ciliao) and BL33 (Zhongliao) acupoints were used to stimulate the sacral nerve using an electrical pulse generator, twice a week for 7 weeks. The change in National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index scores from the baseline to the end of the treatment was observed.

Results: The mean follow-up was 28 weeks from the baseline (range, 20-43 weeks). In acupuncture group, reduction of pain, urinary symptoms, quality of life, and total National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score was higher compared with the medical group.

Conclusion: However the treatment of CP-CPPS is challenging and difficult for the urologists. This clinical study showed that the acupuncture treatment is a safe and effective treatment of category IIIB CP-CPPS.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Prostatitis / classification
  • Prostatitis / therapy*
  • Quality of Life
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Young Adult