SynthesisPloS one2012
Therapeutic intervention for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS): a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 60 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
60 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 145 citations in OpenAlex.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of alpha-adrenergic antagonists for the treatment of pain in chronic prostatitis.World journal of urology · 2025Pooled it
- Acupuncture for the Relief of Chronic Pain: A Synthesis of Systematic Reviews.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2019Pooled it
- Non-pharmacological interventions for treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- Non-pharmacological interventions for treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- Effect of acupuncture on clinical symptoms and laboratory indicators for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International urology and nephrology · 2016Pooled it
- Systematic Review of Acupuncture for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome.Medicine · 2016Pooled it
- Diagnosis and treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a consensus guideline.BJU international · 2015Guideline
- Antimicrobial therapy for chronic bacterial prostatitis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013Pooled it
- Estimating minimal, moderate, and marked clinically important differences for patient reported outcome measure in randomised controlled trial.Chinese medical journal · 2026Trial
- Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Promotes Bladder Regeneration and Improves Overactive Bladder Induced by Ovarian Hormone Deficiency from Rat Animal Model to Human Clinical Trial.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Trial
- Therapeutic effects of Low intensity extracorporeal low energy shock wave therapy (LiESWT) on stress urinary incontinence.Scientific reports · 2020Trial
- The effectiveness of long-needle acupuncture at acupoints BL30 and BL35 for CP/CPPS: a randomized controlled pilot study.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2017Trial
- Immunostimulation in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS): a one-year prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.World journal of urology · 2014Trial
- Article
- Integrating vaginal laser therapy into multidisciplinary management of bladder pain syndrome and vulvodynia.BMC urology · 2026Review
- Comparative Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Chronic prostatitis and male infertility: association mechanism and research progress.World journal of urology · 2025Review
- Efficacy and brain modulation mechanisms of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome revealed by structural MRI changes.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Consensus Guidelines for the Use of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Pain and Neurological Diseases: A Neuron Project from the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- Preliminary study of the effect of gut microbiota on the development of prostatitis.BMC medical genomics · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundChronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) has been treated with several different interventions with limited success. This meta-analysis aims to review all trials reporting on therapeutic intervention for CP/CPPS using the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI).
methodsWe searched Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Pain, Palliative & Supportive Care Trials, the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the NIDDK website between 1947 and December 31, 2011 without language or study type restrictions. All RCTs for CP/CPPS lasting at least 6 weeks, with a minimum of 10 participants per arm, and using the NIH-CPSI score, the criterion standard for CP/CPPS, as an outcome measure were included. Data was extracted from each study by two independent reviewers. Gillbraith and I-squared plots were used for heterogeneity testing and Eggers and Peters methods for publication bias. Quality was assessed using a component approach and meta-regression was used to analyze sources of heterogeneity.
resultsMepartricin, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), and triple therapy comprised of doxazosin + ibuprofen + thiocolchicoside (DIT) resulted in clinically and statistically significant reduction in NIH-CPSI total score. The same agents and aerobic exercise resulted in clinically and statistically significant NIH-CPSI pain domain score reduction. Acupuncture, DIT, and PTNS were found to produce statistically and clinically significant reductions in the NIH-CPSI voiding domain. A statistically significant placebo effect was found for all outcomes and time analysis showed that efficacy of all treatments increased over time. Alpha-blockers, antibiotics, and combinations of the two failed to show statistically or clinically significant NIH-CPSI reductions.
conclusionResults from this meta-analysis reflect our current inability to effectively manage CP/CPPS. Clinicians and researchers must consider placebo effect and treatment efficacy over time and design studies creatively so we can more fully elucidate the etiology and role of therapeutic intervention in CP/CPPS.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.