Heat shock protein 9-mediated inflammation reaction in patients with chronic prostatitis with erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of heat shock protein (HSP)-9 on the inflammation reaction present in patients with chronic prostatitis with erectile dysfunction (ED).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 160 participants in the study were assigned to one of four groups of the same size. Group A had patients with chronic prostatitis and ED. Group B had patients with simple chronic prostatitis. Group C had patients with ED. And group D had healthy volunteers. The serum levels of HSP-9, CRP, TNF-a, IL-6 and CD3 in each individual's serum were tested by ELISA. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores were recorded for each case.

RESULTS: The serum levels of HSP-9, CRP, TNF-a, IL-6 and CD3 in the serum of groups A and B were distinctly higher than those of groups C and D (p<0.05). While comparisons between groups A and B, or between groups C and D yielded no significant differences. Nevertheless, the NIH-CPSI scores in the group A were significantly higher (mostly moderately severe) than in the group B (mild to moderate). Furthermore, the IIEF-5 scores in the group A were also significantly higher than those in the group C.

CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of HSP-9, CRP, TNF-a, IL-6 and CD3 in the sera of patients with chronic prostatitis with ED were clearly increased, reflecting a high degree of inflammation which may be related to the clinical manifestations in patients with chronic prostatitis and ED.