Abstract

Purpose: The underlying pathogenic mechanisms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) are unclear. A growing body of evidence suggests that the urogenital pain of CPPS may be neuropathic in origin. The objective of this study was to determine if gabapentin can be an effective treatment for the symptoms of CPPS with severe pain.
Materials and Methods: Thirty five males with CPPS (category IIIa 25, IIIb 10) and the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total pain score ≥9 in the previous six months were enrolled in this study between October 2010 and December 2011. The dosage of gabapentin was increased from 300 mg/d to 600 mg/d during the first four weeks. The primary outcome was evaluated as an improvement in the NIH-CPSI from the baseline to week eight.
Results: This study examined 35 males with CPPS and a mean age of 54.2±9.8 years, mean disease duration of 34.2±27.7 months, and a mean prostate volume of 24.9±5.3 ml. The decrease in the total NIH-CPSI pain domain at four weeks was significant with no change observed after eight weeks. Between the category IIIa and IIIb CPPS patients, the change in the total pain domain was not significant.
Conclusions: Gabapentin may be effective in some males with CPPS who have a high pain score. More gabapentin may be useless and possibly harmful if gabapentin does not decrease the pain at four weeks.

• Keywords: Chronic prostatitis with chronic pelvic pain syndrome; Gabapentin; Pain; Prostatitis