Endotoxins in the prostatic secretions of chronic prostatitis patients

Aim: To evaluate the clinical significance of the quantitative determinations of endotoxins in the expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of chronic prostatitis (CP) patients. Methods: The EPS of 45 patients with CP and 15 normal volunteers were obtained for microscopic examination, bacterial culture and endotoxin determination. The level of endotoxins was determined by the Limulus-amebocyte-lysate test with chromogenic substrate. Results: Patients with CP had higher mean levels of endotoxins in EPS than normal volunteers [52.06 +/- 32.83 (EUL-1)-L-. vs. 4.77 +/- 4.14 (EUL-1)-L-. (P < 0.05)]. The levels of endotoxins in CP type II, type IIIa and type IIIb were 68.62 +/- 34.78 (EUL-1)-L-., 45.30 +/- 23.33 (EUL-1)-L-. and 15.83 +/- 5.31 (EUL-1)-L-., respectively [type II vs. type IIIa (P > 0.05), type IIIb vs. normal controls (P > 0.05), type II/type IIIa vs. normal controls P < 0.05)]. Conclusion: CP patients have elevated levels of endotoxins in the EPS, which suggests that inflammation is a feature of this disease. EPS endotoxin determination is not only helpful in diagnostic confirmation, but also in evaluating the response to treatment in CP patients.