Seminal fluid analysis in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Prostatitis is a common cause of morbidity among adult men. There are more than 2,000,000 doctor visits per year in the United States, approximately half to urologists (Collins et al., 1998, J Urol 159:1224; Roberts et al., 1998, Urology 51:578; Krieger et al., 2003, Urology). The problem is that very few patients have obvious infections, or functional or structural abnormalities. The aim of this study is to examine our experience with seminal fluid analysis in this patient population, and to outline the potential utility of this examination in patient evaluation.

Pancreatic and biliary disorders in the elderly

Structural and functional changes in the biliary tract and pancreas associated with advanced age are well documented in the literature and must be taken into account in evaluating patients with possible biliary and pancreatic disorders. The relationship between normal, age-related physiologic changes and various pancreatico-biliary diseases is not well defined. Elderly patients may present with severe biliary and pancreatic disease that may pose difficult management problems because of coexisting medical illnesses. Despite these challenges, all but the most frail elderly patients can benefit from appropriate medical, endoscopic, and surgical therapy.

Does the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome differ from nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia?

PURPOSE

The new consensus classification considers the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) based on presence or absence of leukocytes in the expressed prostatic secretions, post-massage urine or seminal fluid analysis. We compared classification based on evaluation of these 3 specimens to the traditional classification based on expressed prostatic secretion examination alone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective clinical and laboratory protocol was used to evaluate symptomatic patients who had no evidence of urethritis, acute bacterial prostatitis or chronic bacterial prostatitis.

RESULTS

Thorough clinical and microbiological evaluation of 310 patients attending our prostatitis clinic was used to select a population of 140 subjects who provided optimal expressed prostatic secretion, post-massage urine and semen specimens. Inflammation was documented in 111 (26%) of 420 samples, including 39 expressed prostatic secretion samples with 500 or greater leukocytes/mm.3, 32 post-massage urine samples with 1 or greater leukocytes/mm.3 and 40 seminal fluid specimens with 1 or greater million leukocytes/mm.3. Of the 140 subjects 73 (52%) had inflammatory chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain according to the consensus criteria but only 39 (28%) had nonbacterial prostatitis according to traditional expressed prostatic secretion criteria (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The new consensus concept of inflammatory chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain includes almost twice as many patients as the traditional category of nonbacterial prostatitis.

Bacterial dna sequences in prostate tissue from patients with prostate cancer and chronic prostatitis

PURPOSE

Although bacterial genetic material has been detected in prostate tissue from patients with various disorders, the prevalence of these organisms is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that bacterial detection rates differ between patients with prostate cancer and those with the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sterile prostate biopsies were obtained during radical retropubic prostatectomy from 107 patients with prostate cancer and using a perineal approach from 170 with the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome. Numerous controls were also evaluated. Bacterial ribosomal encoding DNA (165 rDNA) sequences were detected using a polymerase chain reaction assay. Selected positives were cloned, sequenced and compared with DNA databases.

RESULTS

Bacterial DNA sequences were detected in 21 (19. 6%) of 107 patients with prostate cancer compared to 79 (46.4%) of 170 with chronic prostatitis (p <0.0001). These bacteria included urogenital pathogens, other described microorganisms and bacteria not reported previously.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacterial DNA sequences may be identified in prostate tissue from many patients. Bacterial detection rates in prostate tissue appear to differ among populations, with higher rates among patients with the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome than among those with prostate cancer. Future studies of the role of various bacteria in the prostate may provide insight into the pathophysiology of prostate disease.

Detecting urethral and prostatic inflammation in patients with chronic prostatitis

OBJECTIVES

Diagnosis of urethral and prostatic inflammation can represent a challenge. We compare the accuracy of diagnostic methods for detecting inflammation in lower urinary specimens/samples.

METHODS

A standardized protocol was used to evaluate urethral smear, first-void urine (VB1), midstream urine (VB2), expressed prostatic secretions (EPS), and postmassage urine (VB3) in urologic patients with no symptoms or signs of urethritis who were attending our prostatitis clinic.

RESULTS

Of 235 subjects, 60 (26%) had leukocytes detected by the Gram-stained urethral smear, 44 (18%) by the VB1, and only 14 (6%) by the VB2. Compared with the urethral swab, VB1 had 0% to 22% sensitivity and 81% to 98% specificity, and VB2 had 8% to 11% sensitivity. Of 83 subjects with prostatic inflammation, the EPS detected 63 (76%) and the VB3 detected 68 (82%).

CONCLUSIONS

VB1 or VB2 examinations had low sensitivity for detecting urethral inflammation. Examining both the EPS and VB3 proved best for detecting prostatic fluid inflammation. Combining the urethral smear with lower urinary tract localization ("four-glass test") represents an optimal approach for detecting urethral and prostatic inflammation.

Prostate histopathology and the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a prospective biopsy study

PURPOSE

The chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a common clinical syndrome characterized by lower genitourinary tract symptoms, particularly pain in the perineum or genitalia, voiding symptoms, such as dysuria or frequency, and sexual dysfunction in the absence of uropathogens in the urine or prostatic secretions. The term prostatitis is based on the presumption that prostatic inflammation is important in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. To our knowledge there has been no systematic characterization of the degree and nature of inflammation in the prostate in symptomatic cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prostate histopathology in 368 biopsies from 97 patients with the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome was characterized..

RESULTS

Prostatic inflammation was detected in only 33% of patients, including 29% with mild (less than 10 leukocytes per 1 mm. field) and 4% with moderate (between 10 and 200) or severe (more than 200) infiltrate. Of the 3 patients with moderate inflammation 1 had glandular, 1 periglandular and 3 multifocal or diffuse distribution of leukocytes in the interstitium. Some patients had more than 1 pattern of inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

The finding of moderate or severe inflammation in only 5% of 97 patients argues for the need to reevaluate current concepts of the pathophysiology of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Risk factors for HIV-1 shedding in semen

Semen is the body fluid most commonly associated with sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Because the male genitourinary tract is distinct immunologically from blood, compartment-dependent factors may determine HIV-1 shedding in semen. To identify these factors, the authors obtained 411 semen and blood specimens from 149 men seen up to three times. Seminal plasma was assayed for HIV-1 RNA and semen was cocultured for HIV-1 and cytomegalovirus (CMV), which may up-regulate HIV-1 replication. The best multivariate model for predicting a positive semen HIV-1 coculture included two local urogenital factors, increased seminal polymorphonuclear cell count (odds ratio (OR) = 12.6 for each log10 increase/mL, 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.2, 134.5) and a positive CMV coculture (OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.2, 7.7). The best multivariate model for predicting semen HIV-1 RNA included two systemic host factors, CD4+ cell counts <200/microliter (OR = 3.0, 95 percent CI 1.3, 6.9) and nucleoside antiretroviral therapy (monotherapy: OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3, 1.0; combination therapy: OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2, 0.9), and a positive CMV coculture (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0, 3.0). Thus, both systemic and local genitourinary tract factors influence the risk of semen HIV-1 shedding. These findings suggest that measures of systemic virus burden alone may not predict semen infectivity reliably.

Myenteric neuronal antibodies in scleroderma: passive transfer evokes alterations in intestinal myoelectric activity in a rat model

Although the mechanism for neuropathic gastrointestinal motility disturbances in scleroderma is unknown, we have previously described anti-myenteric antibodies in some patients with scleroderma. The aim of this study was to screen patients with scleroderma who had gastrointestinal symptoms for the presence of anti-myenteric neuronal antibodies and then purify the immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction from serum samples for passive immunization into a rat model and observe for intestinal motility effects. Patients with scleroderma were screened, a serum sample from a patient with high titer anti-myenteric neuronal antibodies was obtained, and IgG was purified. Using a rat model with chronic indwelling intestinal electrodes to measure intestinal myoelectric activity, we passively transferred the IgG from either control subjects or this patient with scleroderma. We immunosuppressed the rats and intraperitoneally injected IgG from control subjects and this patient with scleroderma daily for 7 days. Recordings of myoelectric activity in control injected rats revealed no difference from baseline, but a prolongation in the activity front duration and interval and a disruption were seen after scleroderma IgG injections. IgG from a patient with scleroderma with antimyenteric neuronal antibodies, when passively immunized into a rat model, evokes intestinal myoelectric activity alterations. We hypothesize that these antibodies could account for the gastrointestinal neuropathic motility disturbances seen in scleroderma.

Few patients with "chronic prostatitis" have significant bladder outlet obstruction

OBJECTIVES

A high prevalence of significant bladder outlet obstruction has been reported among men diagnosed as having "chronic prostatitis." To evaluate the possibility that case selection may determine this high prevalence, we compared findings in patients referred directly to our Urodynamic Unit with that of patients evaluated in our Prostatitis Clinic.

METHODS

The videourodynamics records of 201 men aged 18 to 50 years who presented to the Urodynamic Unit with any lower tract symptoms (irritative and/or obstructive with or without pain) were compared with the findings in 123 Prostatitis Clinic patients. The latter were evaluated for obstruction with flow rates and, if abnormal, by retrograde urethrograms and videourodynamics.

RESULTS

Only 37 (18%) of 201 patients referred to the Urodynamic Unit had pain as a significant symptom and might have been diagnosed as having chronic prostatitis. Of these 37 patients, 4 (11%) had definite obstruction, 6 (16%) were equivocal, 6 (16%) were hypocontractile, 1 (3%) had pseudodyssynergia, and 7 (19%) had normal findings. The remainder had abnormalities of bladder filling (hypersensitivity in 11 [30%] and detrusor instability in 2 [5%]). Fewer of the 123 patients with prostatitis had obstruction (definite in 2 [1.6%] and equivocal in 1 [0.8%]) (P = 0.03), 2 (1.6%) had hypocontractile detrusors, and 2 had urethral strictures.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients referred to the Urodynamic Unit with lower urinary tract symptoms and pain rarely have bladder outlet obstruction. However, they are significantly more likely to have bladder outlet obstruction than patients referred to the Prostatitis Clinic who can be screened for obstruction by history, flow rate, postvoid residual, and retrograde urethrogram.

Vasectomy and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in semen

PURPOSE

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) is cultured more often from seminal cells than seminal plasma. Because vasectomy causes dramatic reductions in seminal cells and also eliminates secretions from proximal sites in the male reproductive tract, vasectomy may change the potential infectiousness of semen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to measure HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA) in seminal plasma and HIV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in seminal cells from 46 asymptomatic, seropositive men before and after vasectomy.

RESULTS

HIV RNA levels in semen correlated only weakly with blood levels (r = 0.22, p = 0.03). Of 183 semen specimens assayed for cell-free HIV RNA and proviral DNA 37 (20%) were positive for HIV RNA only, 41 (22%) were positive for HIV DNA only, and 18 (10%) were positive for RNA and DNA. Thus, detection of HIV RNA in seminal plasma was not associated with detection of HIV DNA in seminal cells. HIV RNA was present in 23 of 82 specimens (28%) (mean 2.87 log copies/ml.) before vasectomy and in 38 of 121 specimens (31%) after vasectomy (mean 2.81 log copies/ml.).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that direct measurement of HIV levels in semen is necessary to assess the potential for sexual transmission, most cell-free HIV in seminal plasma arises distal to the vas deferens, and vasectomy may have minimal impact on the infectiousness of HIV seropositive men on sexual partners.

Association between culturable human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in semen and HIV-1 RNA levels in semen and blood: evidence for compartmentalization of HIV-1 between semen and blood

Both qualitative and quantitative virologic measurements were compared between blood and genital compartments for 128 men infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to address several controversial issues concerning HIV-1 shedding in semen and to obtain further information about the distribution of virus between these two compartments. Evidence for viral compartmentalization was suggested by earlier studies that noted the poor correlation between blood and seminal virus load, phenotype, and genotype. Further support for this viral compartmentalization was based on the following observations between semen and blood: lack of association between culturability of virus in semen and viral RNA level in blood, discordant distribution of viral phenotypes, discordant viral RNA levels, a weak correlation between viral RNA level in semen and CD4 cell count in blood, differences in the biologic variability of viral RNA levels, and differences in the virus load response to antiretroviral therapy.

Chronic pelvic pains represent the most prominent urogenital symptoms of "chronic prostatitis"

OBJECTIVES

To refine and standardize evaluation of current symptoms in men with "chronic prostatitis."

METHODS

We reviewed the literature, developed a symptom index, and evaluated the clinical utility of this tool in 50 patients with chronic prostatitis and 75 control patients (25 with benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH] and 50 with sexual dysfunction).

RESULTS

Patients with prostatitis reported more perineal, lower abdominal, testicular, penile, and ejaculatory pain than patients with BPH (P < 0.05 for each symptom) or sexual dysfunction (P < 0.01 for each symptom). Ejaculatory pain was also more common among men with prostatitis than among men with BPH (P = 0.07) or among men with sexual dysfunction (P < 0.01). Although described as characteristic of prostatitis in the literature, low back or rectal pain did not distinguish patients with prostatitis from those with BPH. Patients with prostatitis were intermediate between patients with BPH and sexual dysfunction on the voiding scale and similar to the BPH group on the sexual dysfunction scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain symptoms were the predominant urologic manifestations of chronic prostatitis. The symptom index may prove valuable for evaluating patients and describing clinical results.

Seminal fluid findings in men with nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia

There is considerable confusion about the effects of prostatitis syndromes on male reproductive physiology. Therefore, we correlated findings on seminal fluid and expressed prostatic secretions from 100 men attending a special prostatitis clinic. These men had symptoms of prostatitis but no evidence of urethritis, acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis, or significant urological abnormalities. All subjects were evaluated following a standardized protocol, including lower urinary tract localization studies, expressed prostatic secretion analyses, and seminal fluid analyses with Bryan-Leishman staining. Seminal fluid findings were compared in men with inflammation (> or = 10(6) leukocytes/ml) in their expressed prostatic secretions, i.e., nonbacterial prostatitis, and men without inflammation in prostatic secretions, i.e., prostatodynia. Of 23 men with inflammation (> or = 10(6) leukocytes/ml) in their seminal fluid, 6 (26%) had nonbacterial prostatitis (mean leukocyte concentration 8.6 +/- 9.4 x 10(6)/ml of semen) and 17 (74%) had prostatodynia (mean leukocyte concentration 6.2 +/- 7.0 x 10(6)/ml, not significant). Of 77 men who did not have seminal inflammation, 15 (19%) had nonbacterial prostatitis (mean leukocyte concentration 0.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(6)/ml) and 62 (81%) had prostatodynia (mean leukocyte concentration 0.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(6)/ml, not significant). Men with nonbacterial prostatitis had lower values for several parameters associated with sperm motility, especially the proportion of motile sperm (45% compared with 60% for men with prostatodynia, P = 0.08) and sperm subjective speed score (median 3 compared to 4 for men with prostatodynia, P = 0.03). In summary, a minority of men had seminal inflammation, even among men with nonbacterial prostatitis. There was poor correlation between inflammation in the prostatic secretions and in the semen. Nonbacterial prostatitis, but not seminal inflammation, was associated with reduced sperm motility. Our findings highlight technical issues and the importance of investigating different sites and samples, including the urethra, expressed prostatic secretions, and seminal fluid.

Intermittent shedding of human immunodeficiency virus in semen: implications for sexual transmission

PURPOSE

We attempt to increase our understanding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shedding in semen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We followed 16 seropositive men for up to 27 months by HIV cocultivation, with a subset evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The proportion with at least 1 HIV positive semen culture increased from 3 of 16 subjects (19%) at visit 1 to 10 (63%) by visit 5. Overall, HIV was cultured from 25 of 114 specimens (22%). Shedding was intermittent for each of the 10 men with at least 1 positive culture and seminal shedding patterns were highly variable.

CONCLUSIONS

By culture and polymerase chain reaction, HIV is shed intermittently in the semen. If cultures are performed often enough most seropositive men shed HIV in the semen.

Seminal shedding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and human cytomegalovirus: evidence for different immunologic controls

Contact with semen of seropositive men is important for sexual transmission both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 and human cytomegalovirus (CMV), but the factors that determine shedding of either virus in semen are poorly understood. HIV was cultured from 36 (17%) of 215 semen specimens from 56 seropositive men, and CMV was cultured from 42 (30%) of 139 specimens. In logistic regression models, the CD8+ cell count in peripheral blood was the best predictor of HIV shedding in semen. Shedding of HIV was more closely associated with concomitant shedding of CMV than with CD4+ cell count, and antiretroviral therapy had minimal influence on shedding of HIV. In contrast, CD4+ cell count was the best predictor of CMV shedding in semen. Factors that determine shedding of viruses in semen may differ substantially from those that influence virus levels in the systemic immune compartment. Likewise, immunologic factors that determine shedding of HIV appear to differ from those that control shedding of CMV in semen.

Urinary tract infections in healthy university men

Acute symptomatic urinary tract infections occurred spontaneously in healthy university men. The mean incidence was 5 symptomatic infections per 10,000 men per year. Men with symptomatic infections were older than other students (p = 0.001) and 90% were sexually active. Of 38 patients 35 (92%) responded to a single course of antimicrobial therapy. Factors implicated in other male populations, such as anatomical abnormalities, urinary tract instrumentation, bacterial prostatitis and lack of circumcision, were seldom identified. Extensive evaluation appears unnecessary for young men with bacteriuria who respond to antimicrobial therapy.

Fertility parameters in men infected with human immunodeficiency virus

The effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection on semen parameters that assess fertility was investigated in 50 semen specimens from 21 asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic HIV-seropositive men and 3 specimens from 3 men with AIDS. HIV was isolated from 15 (30%) of 50 specimens from asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic persons and from 1 of 3 specimens from patients with AIDS. The men with AIDS all had pyosemia and grossly abnormal sperm. In contrast, semen specimens from other seropositive men did not differ significantly from semen specimens from healthy seronegative semen donors. No abnormality in sperm count, morphology, numbers or types of leukocytes in semen, or other seminal parameters was associated with HIV shedding in semen. Zidovudine therapy did not affect sperm morphology or seminal characteristics. Thus, although patients with AIDS had abnormal semen, the laboratory parameters that assess fertility were not affected by shedding of HIV in semen or concomitant therapy with zidovudine.

Recovery of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from semen: minimal impact of stage of infection and current antiviral chemotherapy

Because exposure to semen is important for the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV), the relationship of stage of infection and antiviral chemotherapy to isolation of HIV from semen was investigated. Whereas HIV was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of all seropositive persons tested, it was isolated from semen in only 11 (32%) of 34 men, including 3 of 6 who were studied sequentially over time. HIV was isolated from 6 (32%) of 19 semen specimens from 14 asymptomatic persons (Centers for Disease Control [CDC] class II or III) and from 10 (28%) of 36 semen specimens from 20 symptomatic patients (CDC class IV). Isolation of HIV from semen did not correlate with CD4+ or CD8+ T lymphocytes counts or zidovudine therapy. Seropositive men may shed HIV in semen early in the course of infection, and zidovudine therapy seems to have no effect on the recovery of HIV and, thus, on the potential for sexual transmission of HIV.

An algorithm for diagnosis and therapy of management and complications of urolithiasis during pregnancy

From 1 January 1986 to 30 June 1989, 15 pregnant women were diagnosed as having urolithiasis. Patients presented in the last two trimesters with an infection of the lower part of the urinary tract (60 per cent), flank and abdominal pain (27 per cent) and hematuria (13 per cent). Ultrasonographic findings confirmed the diagnosis in 47 per cent of the patients. Other roentgenologic procedures were required in the remaining patients. Initially, therapy was conservative in all, and in 67 per cent of patients, no further intervention was necessary. Only 33 per cent required invasive measures; cystoscopic passage of an internal ureteral stent was the initial procedure of choice at our institution. Three of five patients who underwent invasive procedures had surgical intervention for relief of ureteral obstruction. Intensive care management was necessary for one of these three patients who had acute hemorrhage occur during the procedure. These data emphasize the need for the accurate diagnosis of urolithiasis during pregnancy. Ultrasonography was a valuable diagnostic technique, but a limited excretory urogram is safe and appropriate when there is uncertainty. Conservative management (hydration, analgesia and antibiotics as indicated) of obstructive uropathy was successful in the majority of instances. A specific clinical algorithm facilitated the successful management of patients necessitating operative intervention. Optimal management requires clinical suspicion and a precise diagnostic and therapeutic plan.