Seminal plasma cytokine levels in the diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Background: Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) are frequently encountered clinical entities characterized by painfu l and irritative voiding symptoms often referable to the prostate. Diagnosi s usually depends on the symptoms and treatment mainly consists of reassura nce, anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics in the absence of a docu mented infection. To have objective diagnostic criteria, we determined the possible roles and diagnostic efficacies of soluble cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 in the seminal plasma of patients with different forms of CPPS. Methods: Seminal plasma was obtained from a total of 30 subjects who were e valuated in three groups. Each group comprised 10 patients having inflammat ory CPPS, non-inflammatory CPPS and control subjects, respectively. The lev els of IL-1 beta, IL-2R, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in seminal plasma using chemiluminescence. Results: The level of IL-2R in all three groups was below measurable values . Interleukin-1 beta TNF-alpha IL-6 and IL-8 levels were elevated significa ntly in the two groups with CPPS compared with the control group (P < 0.05) . Soluble cytokines showed a slight difference between patients with inflam matory CPPS and non-inflammatory CPPS, but this was not statistically signi ficant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although there are individual variables between the discriminat ion of inflammatory and non-inflammatory CPPS, cytokines are frequently pre sent and elevated in the expressed prostatic secretions from men with CPPS. Our results indicate that several soluble cytokines can be used to identif y this chronic and long-term disease.