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Copyright 2005 by AMERICAN UROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION DOI: 10.1097/01.ju.0000158445.68149.38
A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO CONTROLLED, DOUBLE- BLIND STUDY OF PELVIC ELECTROMAGNETIC THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME WITH 1 YEAR OF E. ROWE, C. SMITH, L. LAVERICK, J. ELKABIR, R. O’N WITHEROW AND A. PATEL From the Department of Urology, St. Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom Purpose: Male chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition of uncertain etiology and treatment is often unsatisfactory. There is evidence that the symptom complex may result from pelvic floormuscular dysfunction and/or neural hypersensitivity/inflammation. We hypothesized that theapplication of electromagnetic therapy may have a neuromodulating effect on pelvic floor spasmand neural hypersensitivity.
Materials and Methods: Following full Stamey localization men with National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases category III prostatitis were prospectively random-ized to receive active electromagnetic or placebo therapy. Active therapy consisted of 15 minutesof pelvic floor stimulation at a frequency of 10 Hz, followed by a further 15 minutes at 50 Hz,twice weekly for 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months and 1 year aftertreatment using validated visual analog scores.
Results: A total of 21 men with a mean age of 47.8 years (range 25 to 67) were analyzed. Mean symptom scores decreased significantly in the actively treated group at 3 months and 1 year(p Ͻ0.05), unlike the placebo group, which showed no significant change (p Ͼ0.05). Subanalysisof those receiving active treatment showed that the greatest improvement was in pain relatedsymptoms.
Conclusions: The novel use of pelvic floor electromagnetic therapy may be a promising new noninvasive option for chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men.
KEY WORDS: pelvic pain, electromagnetics, prostate, pain, prostatitis The uncertain etiology and variable response to treatment cotherapy, particularly with regard to decreasing pain.9 has made prostatitis a challenging entity. In a national sur- Therefore muscle tone in the urethra/sphincter mechanism vey of physician visits in the United States a diagnosis of may contribute to the pain experienced by men with CPPS.
prostatitis was made in 8% of urological and 1% of primary Despite these findings the pathophysiology remains elusive care physician visits, respectively.1 This confirmed it as a and the role of neurogenic inflammation may offer a possible significant health problem, supporting previous estimates of explanation. It results from a complex interaction between the approximately 2 million prostatitis related outpatient visits central/peripheral nervous system and the immune system, yearly nationwide.2 Globally the reported incidence of causing the release of neuromediators that activate receptors prostatitis-like symptoms has been shown to be 2.7% in the on specific cells, including mast cells, Langerhans’ cells, micro- Far East to 14.2% in Northern Europe.3, 4 In 1995 the Na- vascular endothelial cells, fibroblasts and infiltrating immune tional Institutes of Health-National Institute of Diabetes and cells. The concept of neurogenic inflammation and its effect on Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) workshop reached a mast cell function, vasoregulation and leukocyte recruitment in consensus on the definition and classification of prostatitis the pathophysiology of CPPS represents a new and interesting syndromes.5 This has formed the basis for subsequent re- avenue for further research.10, 11 Also, the role of purinergic search on the pathophysiology of the disease and the efficacy signaling through the release of urothelial adenosine triphos- phate and the stimulation of subepithelial nerve plexus via the The commonest and yet most poorly understood of these purinergic P2X3 receptor, resulting in pain, may provide an prostatitis syndromes is category III or chronic pelvic pain explanation for the symptom profile seen in CPPS.12 syndrome (CPPS). It has been shown that, while men with Conventional treatment has focused on long, empirical CPPS have significantly higher leukocyte counts in urine and courses of expensive broad-spectrum antibiotics, mostly of expressed prostatic secretions compared with age matched the quinolone class, with or without the concomitant use of controls, inflammation and infection do not necessarily cor- an ␣-blocker and anti-inflammatory agents. Stepwise intro- relate with symptom severity.6, 7 The lack of a direct relation- duction of these therapies has also been shown to be of ship between inflammation and symptoms is supported benefit.13 There is also emerging evidence of the benefits of through studies of prostate histopathology, in which moder- ate or severe inflammation was identified in only 5% of men At the turn of the 19th century stimulation with electrical current and changing magnetic fields was used to treat sur- Contributory factors in the pathophysiology of CPPS may face conditions associated with intractable pain, such as include obstruction to bladder emptying. Symptomatic relief painful malignant ulcers. The analgesic benefits of pulsed has been demonstrated with the use of ␣-blocking pharma- electromagnetic fields for relieving pelvic pain has been in-vestigated in women with tissue trauma and chronic refrac- Submitted for publication July 19, 2004.
tory pelvic pain.15, 16 However, in the application of electro- ELECTROMAGNETIC THERAPY FOR MALE CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME magnetic stimulation to the pelvis most research has been inthe management of female stress and urge incontinence.
Despite its uncertain etiology there is some evidence that the symptom complex found in CPPS may be founded at leastin part in pelvic floor muscular dysfunction and/or neuro-genic hypersensitivity/inflammation. We hypothesized thatthe application of a rapidly changing electromagnetic fieldapplied noninvasively to the perineum of the subject mayresult in neural excitation and pelvic floor muscle stimula-tion to a degree that breaks the cycle of tonic muscular spasmand neural hypersensitivity/inflammation, thereby, restoringmore normal pelvic floor muscular activity.
A total of 21 men attending the urology outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of NIDDK category IIIA or IIIB prostatitissyndrome were invited to take part in a trial of electromag-netic pelvic floor therapy. Entry criteria were age 70 years orless and a full Stamey procedure to exclude urinary microor-ganisms. Prostate cancer had been excluded by normal se-rum prostate specific antigen, clinically benign digital rectalexamination or negative previous biopsy. Patients with pre-vious pelvic radiotherapy were also excluded.
Each man had previously undergone several types of failed medical therapy for the condition, which typically included FIG. 1. Neotonus™ electromagnetic chair. Reproduced with per- multiple antibiotic courses, ␣-blockers and occasionally anti- depressants. After obtaining informed consent eligible sub-jects were randomized to active and placebo groups usingcomputer generated, blocked randomization numbers. Pa- tients were informed about the nature of the treatment, the A total of 21 men with a mean age of 47.8 years (range 25 treatment schedule and the possibility that they might be to 67) were entered into the study. Of the 21 men 11 were randomized to placebo but they were not given a detailed randomized to the active treatment group and 10 were ran- description of what local pelvic sensations, if any, to expect domized to the placebo treatment group. Four men failed to during treatment, so as not to bias blinding.
complete the 4-week treatment, including 1 in the active All men were asked to complete a baseline symptom visual treatment group and 3 in the placebo group. They were analog score (VAS) questionnaire that included 5 items of excluded from further analysis. Followup data were obtained pain related questions and 4 covering urinary symptoms (see on 17 men at 3 months (10 in the active and 7 in the placebo Appendix). The VAS questionnaire was adopted from the group) and 13 at 1 year (8 and 5, respectively).
validated symptom severity index designed by Nickel and A significant difference was observed when mean symptom Sorensen.17 The question regarding painful digital rectal ex- scores in the active and placebo groups were analyzed. There amination was omitted because the questionnaire was was a statistically significant decrease in mean symptom scores mailed and, hence, clinical evaluation was not possible. Each in the active treatment arm from 38.8 of 90 at baseline to 26.4 individual question was scored from 0 —asymptomatic to of 90 at 3 months (95% CI 0.9 to 21.9, p Ͻ0.05) and to 24.0 of 90 10 —severely symptomatic, providing a total score of 0 to 90.
at 1 year (95% CI 0.15 to 30.85, p Ͻ0.05). There was no statis- The symptom score questionnaire was re-administered 3 tically significant change in symptom scores in the placebo months and again 1 year following treatment in a double- group, which remained relatively unchanged at mean of 39.3 blind manner with patients and the individual analyzing the of 90 at baseline, 42.4 of 90 at 3 months (95% CI Ϫ1.7 to 22.37, data blinded to the identity of those who had received active p Ͼ0.05) and 33.6 of 90 at 1 year (95% CI Ϫ32.66 to 28.26, The active treatment regime was empirical and consisted On differential analysis separating pain scores from urina- of 2 sessions weekly for 4 weeks (total 8 sessions). During tion scores similar improvement was seen in the active treat-ment group. The pain score decreased significantly in those each half-hour session the patient would sit centrally on the receiving active treatment from a mean baseline of 21.7 of 50 Neotonus™ electromagnetic chair for 2 consecutive 15- to 14.7 of 50 at 3 months (95% CI 3.57 to 12.43, p Ͻ0.05) and minute periods (fig. 1). The frequency was set low at 10 Hz for to 11.9 of 50 at 1 year (95% CI 2.8 to 18.7, p Ͻ0.05). The mean the first 15-minute period and increased to 50 Hz for the pain score in the placebo group remained relatively un- second 15-minute period. The gain was set low initially and changed for the same periods, that is 21.1 of 50 at baseline, gradually increased, as tolerated by the patient. Patients 22.4 of 50 at 3 months (95% CI Ϫ16.38 to 13.8, p Ͼ0.05) and who received placebo were treated in a manner identical to 18 of 50 at 1 year (95% CI Ϫ22.6 to 19.8, p Ͼ0.05, fig. 3).
that in the active treatment group in all respects except no Mean urinary symptom scores showed a significant de- active stimulation was applied from the device. Instead, the crease from 17.1 of 40 at baseline to 11.7 of 40 at 3 months in chair was switched on so that the fan could be heard and a those receiving active treatment (95% CI 1.2 to 12.4, hidden speaker under the stimulation device replicated the p Ͻ0.05). While mean urinary symptom scores remained sounds created during active treatment. Men receiving active below baseline at the 1-year followup, improvement in the and placebo therapy were treated on alternate days to pre- actively treated group no longer achieved statistical signifi- vent cross-talk between groups, which may have compro- cance. There was no corresponding improvement in urinary mised study blinding. Statistical analysis was performed us- symptoms in the placebo group, which changed little from the baseline of 18.9 of 40 to 19.3 of 40 at 3 months (95% CI Ϫ6.5 ELECTROMAGNETIC THERAPY FOR MALE CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME FIG. 2. Mean VAS pain and urinary symptom scores at baseline, and 3 and 12 months in active and placebo groups.
FIG. 4. Mean urinary symptom scores in active and placebo categories of men receiving active treatment, which was sus-tained at 1 year. There was also a significant improvement inurinary symptoms at 3 months of followup in the activegroup, although this decrease was of lower magnitude thanthe improvement in pain symptoms (approximately 30%) andit was no longer significantly different from baseline at 1year. Nevertheless, no equivalent improvement was seen inthe placebo group. Although we did not test the effectivenessof blinding the sham treatment group, we believe that thedifferences that we observed represent a real effect throughmechanisms that have yet to be elucidated. Since this was apilot study, quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of blind-ing to active or placebo treatment was not done and thisshould be part of any future study. However, because men ineach arm wrote to ask if they had received active treatmentat the 1-year followup, this anecdotal evidence reassured usas to the effectiveness of blinding. The failure to obtain fol-lowup data on all of those who participated in the study is atleast in part a reflection of the transient nature of the urban FIG. 3. Mean pain scores at baseline, and at 3-month and 1-year population in which this study was performed.
While the precise etiology of CPPS continues to be obscure, there is growing evidence that it may result from muscular/neural dysfunction of the lower urinary tract rather from to 5.64, p Ͼ0.05) and 15.6 of 40 at 1 year (95% CI Ϫ11.83 to than an inflammatory process in the prostate gland, which is supported by histological evidence and the failure of antibi- No significant side effects were observed. One patient in otic treatment in a randomized, placebo controlled, multi- the active group experienced transient paresthesia 48 hours center trial.8, 18 Support for the theory that it may result from in duration with subsequent complete resolution.
a spasm in the proximal sphincter mechanism may derivefrom the decrease in symptoms in men treated with ␣-blockers.13,19 However, the pathways in neurogenic in- In this pilot study we prospectively tested the hypothesis flammation and in particular the complex interaction be- that pelvic floor neuromuscular dysfunction/neurogenic in- tween central and peripheral nervous and the endocrine sys- flammation may account for some symptoms of CPPS tem, and their effects on immunomodulatory mechanisms (NIDDK IIIA and IIIB) and this dysfunction could be de- may provide an explanation for the symptom pattern seen in creased by the noninvasive application of local electromag- men with CPPS. The modification/interruption of this path- netic therapy. Sustained improvement was observed in the way through electromagnetic stimulation may explain the symptom scores of men in the active group compared with improved symptom profile in those who received active treat- scores those who received sham treatment.
ment. By breaking the cycle of tonic muscular spasm and When mean symptom scores were compared at 3 months neural hypersensitivity/inflammation normal pelvic floor and 1 year, there was a statistically significant decrease of muscular activity is restored. This may account for the du- approximately 40% in men in the active group, which was not rability of the response. Another possible explanation is that observed in the placebo group. Further subanalysis of VAS purinergic P2X3 receptor subunits are up-regulated in CPPS, pain and urinary symptom scores showed that the greatest as reported in interstitial cystitis, and this up-regulation is improvement in the symptom profile was seen in the pain reversed or there is desensitization of purinergic receptors ELECTROMAGNETIC THERAPY FOR MALE CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN SYNDROME following treatment.12 Interference of this pathway could 2. Long-Range Plan Window on the 21st Century. National Kidney explain why pain symptoms showed the greatest response.
and Urologic Diseases Advisory Board. Bethesda, Maryland: To date electromagnetic stimulation therapy has generally United States Department of Health and Human Services, been reserved for stress and urge female urinary inconti- National Institutes of Health Publication No. 90 –583, p. 20, nence. The frequencies used for this purpose were 10 and 50 Hz. Hence, these frequencies were applied in our phase II 3. Tan, J. K., Png, D. J., Liew, L. C., Li, M. K. and Wong, M. L.: study. It may be that a single frequency will suffice and Prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms in Singapore: a shorten treatment time, leading to cost savings. Frequencies population-based study. Singapore Med J, 43: 189, 2002
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