Correlation of resistive index of prostatic capsular artery to clinical symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Objectives: To evaluate the relation between resistive index (RI) of prostatic capsular arteries by transrectal Doppler ultrasonography in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and its correlation with lower urinary tract symptoms, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation parameters of CP/CPPS. Methods: In total, we included 68 patients presenting with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We formed two groups, as Group 1 of 35 patients with a RI ≥ 0.7 and Group 2 of 33 patients with RI < 0.7. All patients were assessed with International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) and National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI). In addition, the RI of the prostate capsular artery was measured in all patients using Doppler ultrasound. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 18. A p value <.05 was considered significant. Results: Demographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. IPSS was 11.3 ± 6 in Group 1 and 9.7 ± 5.3 in Group 2. IIEF-5 was 18.6 ± 2 in Group 1 and 20.4 ± 2.3 in Group 2. PEDT was 12.4 ± 5.6 in Group 1 and 11.2 ± 4 in Group 2. CPSI (total) was 19.3 ± 12.3 in Group 1 and 10.6 ± 7.7 in Group 2. There was significant statistical difference in IPSS, IIEF-5, and CPSI between the two groups (p <.001, p <.001, p <.001 respectively). However, we found no significant difference in PEDT between the two groups (p =.19). Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between the lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction parameters and the RI of the prostatic capsular artery in CP/CPPS and RI is an effective and noninvasive method to assess the severity of the disease.