USE OF A NOVEL NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG, NIMESULIDE, IN THETREATMENT OF ABACTERIAL PROSTATOVESICULITIS

Nimesulide, a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was used in cases of abacterial prostato-vesiculitis. Thirty patients with a mean age of 33.7 years (range 18-58) were studied. Nimesulide was administe red orally 100 mg b.i.d. for three cycles of 10 d each. Dysuric sympto ms, semen analysis, and transrectal ultrasound were examined during th e study. The concentration-time curves of nimesulide (NIM) and its met abolite, hydroxynimesulide (OH-NIM) in seminal fluid were also evaluat ed after single oral administration (100 mg) using an HPLC technique. Following administration of the drug, the Cmax was reached in seminal fluid at the second hour for NIM (with a mean value+/-SD of 0.58+/-0.1 3 mug ml-1) and at the fourth hour for OH-NIM (2.98+/-0.38 mug ml-1). Maximal seminal fluid concentrations compared to blood plasma levels w ere observed at the fourth hour for both substances (31.73+/-2.34% for NIM; 31.87+/-8.66% for OH-NIM. Dysuric symptoms were relieved in 20 ( 66%) patients. A clear amelioration of inflammatory signs were observe d at transrectal ultrasound evaluation in 16 (54%) patients. No statis tically significant changes of sperm count and motility in the whole s ample were observed, while a significant reduction in the number of ab normal forms occurred. From these results, nimesulide appears to be an effective anti-inflammatory drug with a good diffusion into the genit al apparatus and low side-effects.