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Although chronic prostatitis (now called “chronic prostatitis–chronic pelvic pain syndrome”) is diagnosed fairly often, it is poorly understood and difficult to treat. In an NIH-sponsored trial, researchers examined whether an α-adrenergic–receptor blocker — a drug commonly prescribed for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia — alleviates symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
The trial included 272 men with pelvic discomfort for at least 6 weeks (median symptom duration, 1.2 years) and scores ≥12 on a 43-point chronic prostatitis symptom index. Patients were randomized to receive alfuzosin (10 mg) or placebo. At 12 weeks, the proportion of patients whose symptom scores decreased by at least 4 points (a clinically important change) was identica…