Study of blood testosterone in patients with chronic prostatitis

Introduction : Chronic prostatitis is a polyetiological disease with a complex pathogenesis, significantly reducing the quality of life of men. One of the factors in the pathogenesis of prostatitis is testosterone deficiency, but its role requires further study. Purpose of the study : to study the level of testosterone and its relationship with the main clinical, laboratory and instrumental parameters in patients with chronic prostatitis. Materials and Methods : A retrospective analysis of the examination results of 393 patients suffering from chronic prostatitis (categories II, IIIA and IIIB according to the NIH classification, 1995) was performed. The average age of the patients was 44.33±10.01 years. The statistical significance of the difference (p) in the sum of points on the NIH-CPSI scale, the content of leukocytes and pathogenic microflora content in the secretion of the prostate gland, the maximum volumetric flow rate of urination and the volume of residual urine in patients with blood testosterone levels < 8 , 8-12 and >12 nmol/l was estimated. The relationship (correlation coefficient, r) between testosterone levels and the above parameters was also assessed. Study results : the proportion of patients with testosterone levels below 12 nmol/L was 31.04%. The average blood testosterone level was above the threshold (12 nmol/L) and did not differ statistically significantly in patients with different CP/CPPS categories. In patients with blood testosterone levels < 8 nmol/L, the white blood cell count in prostate secretions was statistically significantly higher than in patients in other groups (p<0.05); in addition, patients with blood testosterone levels below 8 nmol/L had the lowest urinary flow rate and the highest residual urine volume (compared to the other two groups), but this difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). A negative correlation was found between the testosterone level, on the one hand, and the number of points on the NIH-CPSI scale and the content of leukocytes in the prostate gland secretion, on the other. Conclusion : it is necessary to continue the study on an expanded cohort of patients with the targeted formation of groups with low and «subnormal» blood testosterone content.