Chronic prostatitis (CP), one of the most commonly seen diseases in the male urogenital system, accounts for one-third of men’s diseases; it usually occurs in the age range of 20 - 40 years, develops slowly, and is difficult to cure. It can impact severely the quality of life of sufferers [1,2]. CP features a long course, common recurrence, and a complex pathological mechanism; the symptoms of paruria and perineal pain clinically can result in sexual dysfunction and infertility if the treatment is delayed [3,4]. The effects of currently available Western medicines have not been satisfactory.

Modern medicine considers that CP can be divided into chronic bacterial prostatitis, non-bacterial prostatitis, and prostatodynia according to the Meares - Stamey classification [5]. In 1995, the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) proposed dividing prostatitis into category I, category II (chronic bacterial prostatitis), category III (chronic pelvic pain syndrome or chronic abacterial prostatitis), and category IV (asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis) [6]. Category III accounts for 90 % of cases.

Traditional Chinese medicine classifies CP into the categories of Lin and Zhuo, or the categories of kidney vacuity and lumbar pain, impotence, prospermia, and retention of urine. Traditional Chinese medicine considers CP as induced primarily by insecurity of the essence gate, stagnation of humid heat, and liver depression. Based on the clinical experience, we used a Chinese traditional medicine, bushenhuazhuo preparation, in combination with ciprofloxacin to treat CP in men.

General data

A total of 160 CP patients who received treatment at the People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou between April 2012 and June 2014 were selected randomly and divided into control and treatment groups, 80 in each. In the treatment group, patients aged from 29 to 64 years (mean 38.70 ± 10.20 years) had developed CP over the previous 2 months to 6 years (mean 1.50 ± 0.60 years) and in the control group, patients aged from 28 to 62 years (average 36.90 ± 8.20 years) had developed CP over the previous 3 months to 7 years (average 1.70 ± 0.50 years).

Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of CP [8], underwent no other treatment or had stopped receiving another treatment for more than 1 week, and signed an informed consent were included. Patients with a history of treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, deformity of the urethra or prostate, or laser, radio-frequency, microwave, or ablation treatment, who had acute onset of CP and who developed severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases or liver and renal diseases were excluded. No significant difference was found in general data (P > 0.05); thus, the results were comparable. This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou (approval no. PHZ20150425QXW). It was conducted according to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki [9].

Therapeutic regimen

Patients in the control group were administered ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets orally (Tianfang Pharmacy Inc., Henan; branch no. H41024142), 0.25 g twice a day for 4 weeks. In addition to ciprofloxacin therapy, patients in the treatment group were also given bushenhuazhuo preparation. Bushenhuazhuo preparation was comprised of prepared rehmannia root (20 g), fructus psoraleae (10 g), corydalis yanhusuo (10 g), radix cyathulae (15 g), semen plantaginis (15 g), Dioscorea tokoro Makino (10 g), herba patriniae (15 g), golden cypress (10 g), rhizoma acori graminei (10 g), Poria cocos (20 g), bighead atractylodes rhizome (15 g), salviae miltiorrhizae (15 g), and lotus plumule (10 g); a dose each was administered orally twice daily. Again, 4 weeks was regarded as one course. Patients were forbidden from taking irritable foods and were asked to take regular rest during treatments.

Observation index

The NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was used. Moreover, conventional microscopy of prostate fluid was performed; specifically, the numbers of white blood cells (WBCs) and lecithin bodies were determined in five high-power fields. Levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-10 in prostate fluid were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using kits (Wuhan Boster Bioengineering, Inc.). The values above were evaluated once before and after treatment.

Criteria for a therapeutic effect

The comprehensive therapy standard, based on NIH-CPSI [10], was adopted. If the NIH-CPSI score declined by not less than 90 %, prostate fluid was found to be normal in two examinations, pressure pain disappeared, and the results of bacterial cultures were negative, then CP was considered ‘cured.’ If the NIH-CPSI score decreased by not less than 60 %, pressure pain improved significantly, the levels of WBCs in prostate were reduced to not less than 60 % in two examinations, and the result of bacterial cultures were negative, then the treatment was considered to be markedly effective.

If the NIH-CPSI score decreased by more than 30 %, pressure pain was relieved, the levels of WBCs in prostate fluid was reduced by not less than 30 % in two consecutive examinations, and bacteria grew, then the treatment was considered effective. If the NIH-CPSI score was reduced by less than 30 %, pressure pain showed no improvement, the levels of WBCs in prostate fluid declined by less than 30 % in two examinations, and bacteria grew, then the treatment was considered ineffective. The equation for response rate is as follows:

d = [(a+b+c)/n] × 100………………. (1)

where d is the response rate, a is the number of ‘cured’ patients, b is the number of patients obtaining a significant effect, c is the number of patients obtaining an effect, and n is the total number of patients.

Statistical analysis

The SPSS software (ver. 19.0) was used for all analyses. The data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Comparison between groups was performed using t-test. Numerical data were processed using χ² tests. Correlations were analysed using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Differences were considered statistically significant if p < 0.05.

Comparison of therapeutic effect

shows that 50 patients were cured, 18 cases were significantly effective, 4 cases were effective, and 8 cases were ineffective in the treatment group, and 34 patients were cured, 10 cases were significantly effective, 14 cases were effective, and 22 cases were ineffective in the control group. The total response rate of the treatment group (90 %) was higher than that of the control group; the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

NIH-CPSI scores before and after treatment

shows that NIH-CPSI scores in both groups declined significantly after treatment, and the scores in the treatment group were lower than those of the control group after treatment (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in scores for pain, discomfort, or urinary symptom, but the score for quality of life showed a significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05).

WBCs and lecithin bodies

shows that the numbers of WBCs in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group; the difference was significant (p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of lecithin bodies in the treatment group was higher than in the control group (p < 0.05).

IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 levels before and after treatment

shows that levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 improved in both groups after treatment (p < 0.05). The improvement in the treatment group was more obvious than in the control group (p < 0.05).

The pathogenesis of CP remains controversial. Most scholars consider that the occurrence of CP is associated with infection by pathogenic microorganisms, paruria, stimulation of urine, anxious emotions, neuroendocrine dyscrasia, immune reaction abnormalities, oxidative stress, and pelvic disease [11]. Unconventional sexual activities, excessive drinking, long-term intake of irritable foods, fatigue, and long-term extrusion of pelvic floor muscles are also considered to be associated with CP. In clinical practice, anti-bacterial treatment is the major therapy for prostatitis; however, its curative effect is not satisfactory, which may be due to the unique anatomical structure of the prostate. Other factors, such as redundant prepuce and iatrogenic injuries, such as in catheterisations, may also induce CP. CP is associated with drug permeation inhibition and inflammatory secretions induced by the barrier function of the prostatic capsule [12].

Incorrect use of anti-bacterial drugs will weaken their curative effect and may even lead to dysbiosis and liver and kidney damage. As the effects of antibiotics alone are limited, currently, traditional Chinese medicines in combination with Western medicines are used extensively in treating CP. In the view of traditional Chinese medicine, CP belongs to categories of turbid semen, turbid urine, and stranguria and is induced by the long-term existence of wet-heat, the stagnation of qi, and blood stasis [13]. Traditional Chinese medicine is effective in the treatment of CP. It has been shown that traditional Chinese medicines can resist inflammation, infection, and fibrosis, improving microcirculation, urodynamics, and immunity, and regulation of the pH value of prostatic fluid [14].

It has been shown that essence exists in the kidney and spleen; qi deficiency can result in interior dampness accumulation and turbidity; pain is induced by wetness and heat, and kidney qi damage can result in seminal emissions [15]. CP may be induced by smoking, excessive drinking, masturbation, the withdrawal method, and frequent feculent sexual intercourse. The pathogenesis of CP includes wet-heat, stasis, essence stasis, and kidney deficiency. Wet, heat, stasis, and qi deficiency are all involved in the pathological process of CP. Wet-heat dominates in the early stage of CP; stasis and qi deficiency dominate in the middle and later stages of CP.

Prepared rehmannia root can benefit the essence and fill the marrow. Fructus psoraleae can the warm kidney and support yang. Semen plantaginis, herba patriniae, Dioscorea tokoro Makino, golden cypress, and rhizoma acori graminei, which can clear heat, eliminate wetness, and relieve pain, can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of prostatitis. Moreover, Poria cocos can clear dampness, tonify the spleen, calm the nerves, and quiet the heart. Bighead atractylodes rhizome can tonify the qi and spleen and eliminate wetness. The combination of the two drugs can function in tonifying the spleen and eliminating dampness [16]. Corydalis yanhusuo can promote qi to activate the blood, and salviae miltiorrhizae can promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis; they are both useful in improving blood circulation [17]. Radix cyathulae can remove blood stasis and stimulate menstrual flow. Lotus plumule, which can clear heart heat, calm liver heat, and remove spleen heat, is effective in relieving patient anxiety [18]. The preparation has functions of tonifying qi and the kidney, eliminating wetness, clearing heat, activating the blood, and dispersing blood stasis. This study showed that the treatment group had a higher total response rate than the control group; moreover, scores for quality of life and levels of WBCs and lecithin bodies in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group.

Microscopic research of CP has become a hotspot of research, and cell factors are key [19]. In this study, an initial exploration was made regarding the mechanism of action of CP treatment by assessing levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 before and after treatment. Cell factors function in regulating the immune response and mediating inflammatory reactions. IFN-γ and TNF-α, secreted by Th1 cells, are pro-inflammatory, whereas IL-10, secreted by Th2 cells, is anti-inflammatory. The balance between Th1 and Th2 can ensure the immune function of the human body and influence pathological development and transformation [20].

IFN-γ can induce the activation of macrophages; the active substances secreted can damage endothelial cells, strengthen the immune response, and promote the progression of inflammatory reactions. TNF-α can promote the adhesion of neutrophil granulocytes on endothelial cells and mediate the generation of adherence factor and inflammatory mediators [21]. IL-10 can inhibit T cell - mediated inflammatory response. It has been found that the level of IL-10 correlates with clinical symptoms in patients [22]; the study suggested that bushenhuazhuo preparation could lower levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α and increase the level of IL-10, which may be an important mechanism worthy of further study.

Limitation of the study

The number of cases in the present study was small, which may have influenced the results. Thus, studies with larger sample sizes should be carried out in the future.

Bushenhuazhuo preparation, a Chinese traditional medicine, can significantly improve local microcirculation, relieve local symptoms induced by CP, and enhance the localised concentration of orally administered ciprofloxacin in the prostate. The drug combination did not cause any adverse reaction.