[Identification of potential causative infectious agents of chronic prostatitis]

Analysis of the data on etiology and pathogenesis of inflammatory processes in prostate including acute and chronic prostatitis as well as chronic pelvic pain syndrome is presented. It has been noted that about 50% of men of fertile age had clinical signs of chronic prostatitis at least once in life and that more than 60% of admissions to urologists in outpatient practices are related with clinical signs of chronic prostatitis. An appreciable decrease in quality of life similar to that due to myocardial infarction or Crohn's disease is observed in patients with chronic prostatitis. Prostatitis often has a chronic cyclic course with exacerbation and remission phases. Not rarely the disease has primary chronic course--without an apparent beginning as acute prostatitis. This leads to late diagnostics and difficulties with identification of etiologic factor, which commonly is a conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and mixed infections. Such difficulties can be a reason for inadequate treatment and complications of chronic prostatitis such as abscess, paraprostatitis, impotence, and infertility.

PMID: 17523493 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]