Endotoxins in the prostatic secretions of chronic prostatitis patients

To evaluate the clinical significance of the quantitative determinations of endotoxins in the expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) of chronic prostatitis (CP) patients.

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.

Patients with CP had higher mean levels of endotoxins in EPS than normal volunteers [52.06 +/- 32.83 EU/L vs. 4.77 +/- 4.14 EU/L (P <0.05)]. The levels of endotoxins in CP type II, type IIIa and type IIIb were 68.62 +/- 34.78 EU/L, 45.30 +/- 23.33 EU/L and 15.83 +/- 5.31 EU/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)].

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.