Is Helicobacter pylori Infection a Risk Factor for Prostatitis? A Case-Control Study in a Referring Tertiary Care Center

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment is not possible yet for chronic prostatitis due to the unknown etiology of the diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of Helicobacter pylori infection with chronic prostatitis. METHODS: In this prospective case-control study that conducted in Imam Hospital Complex affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran from 2014 to 2015, patients with diagnosis of chronic prostatitis according to the criteria of National Institute of Health (NIH) were enrolled. Control group constituted of consecutive healthy patients. Blood samples were obtained for each patient and control and evaluated for serum levels of anti H. pylori IgG, A. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS, version 18. Values of P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Mean ± SD age of patients was 59.5 ± 3.08 yr in the case group and 56.88 ± 3.20 yr in the control group with no significant difference (P>0.05). Mean ± SD levels of anti H. pylori IgG and IgA in the control group were 9.36 ± 7.45 U/ml and 6.25 ± 7.29 U/ml, respectively compared with 20.94 ± 16.98 U/ml and 18.63 ± 15.65 U/ml in the case group, respectively both of which revealed statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic prostatitis is associated with H. pylori infection. Both anti H. pylori IgG and IgA are increased in patients with chronic prostatitis. Therefore, treatment of HP infection could be effective in the prostatitis cure.