Prostate blood flow characteristics in the chronic prostatitis/pelvic painsyndrome

Purpose: We determine whether the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome is associated with abnormal prostate blood now. Materials and Methods: We used color Doppler ultrasonography to examine 53 patients with inflammation, 80 men without inflammation and 22 healthy cont rols. images were recorded and scored using standardized criteria to charac terize the degree and distribution of prostatic vascularity. Results: Flow was observed to the entire prostatic capsule in 77% of patien ts but only 18% of controls (p <0.0001). Parenchymal flow was evaluated usi ng several criteria. On a 2-point scale now was classified as grade 2 in 74 % of patients compared to 27% of controls (p <0.0001). Similar findings wer e noted on a Doppler spot scale, with flow classified as grade 2 in 47% of patients compared to 14% of controls (p <0.004). Patients also had more par enchymal Doppler spots than controls (p <0.01). Diffuse blood flow througho ut the prostatic parenchyma was observed in 63% of patients compared to 36% of controls (p <0.03). There was no significant difference in the amount o r distribution of blood flow in patients with and without inflammation. Conclusions: The chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome was associated wi th increased blood now to the prostatic capsule and diffuse now throughout the prostatic parenchyma. Despite technical Limitations, color Doppler ultr asonography may provide objective documentation of prostate blood now abnor malities in patients with this syndrome.