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

Methods: 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.

Results: Patients with CP had higher mean levels of endotoxins in EPS than normal volunteers [52.06+/-32.83 EU.L^-1 vs. 4.77+/-4.14 EU.L^-1 (P < 0.05)]. The levels of endotoxins in CP type II, type IIIa and type IIIb were 68.62+/-34.78 EU.L^-1, 45.30+/-23.33 EU.L^-1 and 15.83+/-5.31 EU.L^-1, 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)].

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: endotoxin, chronic prostatitis, inflammation

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