Comparison of the efficiency of combined extracorporeal shock-wave therapy and triple therapy versus triple therapy itself in Category III B chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of combining extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) and triple therapy versus triple therapy alone, when treating Category III B chronic prostatitis (CPPS). Study included 60 patients, classified as having CPPS, divided into two groups: the first group numbered 30 patients, who were treated with a combination of an α-blocker, an anti-inflammatory agent and a muscle relaxant; the second group consisted of 30 patients who received a combination of ESWT and the fore-mentioned triple therapy. Patients were treated for 12 weeks. The primary criterion of a response to therapy was scoring 2 or less on the NIH-CPSI quality of life item, while the secondary criterion of a response to therapy was a greater than a 50% reduction in NIH-CPSI pain score. Patients who received triple therapy did not show a significant change neither in post void residual urine (PVR) nor in maximum flow rate (QMAX), while the second group of patients exhibited significant improvement in both PVR and QMAX values. Both groups of patients showed statistically significant improvement in all items of the NIH-CPSI score after the treatment, with significantly better results in the second group.