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PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) for the treatment of men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) category III. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a 16-week double-blind study 100 men with a clinical diagnosis of CPPS were randomized to receive 300 mg PPS or placebo 3 times daily. Clinical Global Improvement (CGI) was the primary outcome measure. Additional outcome measures were the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI), Subjective Global Assessment and Symptom Severity Index assessment tools. RESULTS: Significantly more patients receiving PPS experienced moderate to marked improvement based on CGI assessment (18 or 37% vs 8 or 18%, p = 0.04). However, mean CGI scores were not significantly different between the PPS group (1.0) and placebo groups (1.0 vs 0.6, p = 0.107). All NIH-CPSI domains suggested a positive effect for PPS and for total NIH-CPSI the difference approached statistical significance (-5.9 or 22% vs -3.2 or 12%, p = 0.068). The PPS group showed significantly greater improvement in NIH-CPSI quality of life domain scores than the placebo group (-2.0 or 22% vs -1.0 or 12%, p = 0.031). Of patients receiving PPS 67% and 80% of those receiving placebo completed the 16-week study. Diarrhea, nausea and headache were the most common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Pentosan polysulfate (900 mg daily) was more likely than placebo to provide relief for CPPS symptoms.
Nickel et al. (Wed,) studied this question.