Inflammatory reaction found in prostate-specific material - method standardization and proposed optimal cut-off...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Inflammation Markers
• Diagnostic Methods

Background:

• Prostate inflammation diagnosis relies on semi-quantitative, non-standardized methods.
• Accurate classification and treatment of prostatitis require precise inflammatory status assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose precise methods for detecting prostate inflammatory status.
• To define optimal cut-off points for differentiating inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions.
• To analyze the prevalence of inflammatory prostatitis in symptomatic, LUTS, and control groups.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 541 patients at Tartu University Hospital, Estonia.
• Analysis of leukocyte counts in first-void urine, expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), and post-massage urine (PMU).
• Determination of interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in prostate secretion specimens.
• ROC curve analysis to establish normal value cut-offs.

Main Results:

• Potential normal values established: leukocytes in EPS (<0.5 m/mL), leukocytes in PMU (<4 WBCs/HPF), and IL-6 in prostatic secretion (<50 nmol/mL).
• Inflammatory reaction detected in 24.3% of controls, 53.4% with LUTS, and 69% with prostatitis symptoms.
• High prevalence of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis observed in the control group.

Conclusions:

• A standardized method for analyzing inflammatory reactions in prostate-specific materials is proposed.
• Newly defined normal values aid in better differentiation of inflammatory and non-inflammatory prostate diseases.
• Findings support more precise treatment strategies based on accurate inflammatory status determination.