Prostatic tissue pressure measurement as a possible diagnostic procedure in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Forty-two patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) and twelve m en without any urological complaints or history underwent intraprostatic ti ssue pressure measurement with a Stryker intracompartmental pressure monito r device. The pressures were measured under spinal anesthesia in connection with various surgical procedures. Tissue pressure was monitored at 10, 60 and 120 s after an injection of 1 ml saline. Significantly (P < 0.001) high er intraprostatic pressure values were registered at all the three time poi nts in the patients with CNP compared to the controls. Our study shows that patients with CNP have elevated intraprostatic tissue pressures, probably reflecting increased tissue resistance and a poor tissue microcirculation s tatus. It seems that this method can be used as a diagnostic tool to differ entiate between various causes of chronic pelvic pain in the male. The aim is to develop further this method so that it is also suitable for outpatien t use.