An investigation about chronic prostatitis in ankylosing spondylitis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Urology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Chronic prostatitis is frequently reported in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
• Infectious or non-infectious prostatitis may trigger vertebral inflammation in AS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare chronic prostatitis features in AS patients versus healthy controls.
• To investigate potential links between prostatitis and AS pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 45 AS patients and 45 controls.
• Prostate examinations, clinical interviews, and urinary tests (cytology, biochemistry, microbiology) pre- and post-prostatic massage.
• Polymerase chain reaction for Chlamydia trachomatis and uric acid level analysis.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in NIH-CPSI scores or prostatitis symptom frequency between AS patients and controls.
• Negative Chlamydia trachomatis PCR results in all participants.
• Similar uric acid concentrations and leukocyte counts in urinary samples.

Conclusions:

• Chronic prostatitis occurs in AS patients but does not differ in frequency or characteristics from the general male population.
• The study did not find evidence supporting Chlamydia trachomatis or elevated uric acid as triggers for prostatitis in AS.