[Clinical studies on chronic prostatitis and prostatitis-like syndrome (7). Electric acupuncture therapy for intractable cases of chronic prostatitis-like syndrome].

Seventeen patients with prostatodynia (chronic prostatitis-like syndrome) refractory to conventional medical treatment were treated with electric acupuncture at a low-wave frequency. All of them had had a complicated clinical course and pelvic hypertonicity. This therapy was administered to mitigate the congestion of pelvic circulation, especially around the prostate. The clinical efficacy of longterm treatment was considered excellent in 30% and moderate in 70% of the patients, with an overall efficacy rate of 100%. Treatment with Chinese medicines and chemical agents could be withdrawn completely in 50% of the patients, treatment with chemical agents could be withdrawn in 30% of the patients, and the dose of either type of medication could be reduced in 20% of the patients. To examine whether the efficacy of electric acupuncture was related to the induction of cytokines we also examined the serum levels of INF-gamma, IL-1 beta and IL-6, but, no significant elevation of either of them was detected.