Design of a multicenter randomized clinical trial for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

To describe the study design and rationale for the first placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to be conducted by the Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

The clinical trial will use a 2 by 2 factorial design to evaluate four treatments: placebo, tamsulosin hydrochloride alone, ciprofloxacin alone, and tamsulosin hydrochloride and ciprofloxacin combined. The primary objectives are to compare the efficacy and safety endpoints in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The study population consists of men with symptoms of discomfort or pain in the pelvic region for at least a 3-month period. One hundred eighty-four participants will be treated for 6 weeks and followed up for an additional 6 weeks. The primary endpoint is the change in the overall National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index from baseline to 6 weeks. Secondary endpoints include a patient-reported global assessment of response and white blood cell counts and cultures in urine, expressed prostatic secretions, and semen. The evaluation of changes from 6 to 12 weeks will be used to assess the durability of the response.

This trial was opened to enrollment in July 2001. The study is expected to require 14 months of accrual and follow-up.

The issues considered in the design of this clinical trial may provide guidelines for future clinical trials in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.