Objectives: To systematically review the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).
Methods: PubMed, Cochrane library Central, Web of Science, Wang-fang Database, and CNKI were searched from their inception to June 30, 2016. Data of acupuncture for CP/CPPS following randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was included. The data were analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager. The primary data were the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Index (NIH-CPSI) score at the end of follow-up.
Results: Ten RCTs were enrolled. Acupuncture was superior to the control in NIH-CPSI (MD -3.98, [95 % CI -5.78 to -2.19]; P < 0.0001) and response rate (RR 4.12, [95 % CI 1.67-10.18]; P = 0.002). Acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture on NIH-CPSI, response rate, pain, urinary, and quality of life (QOL). Standard medication was inferior to acupuncture in terms of NIH-CPSI (MD -3.08, [95 % CI -5.57 to -0.60]; P = 0.02) and response rate (RR 2.03, [95 % CI 1.04-3.97]; P = 0.04), but standard medication was superior to acupuncture on improving urinary symptoms. There was no significant difference in the adverse events. Acupuncture/acupuncture plus standard medication significantly down-regulated IL-1β compared with standard medication in prostatic fluid.
Conclusion: Acupuncture treating CP/CPPS is effective and safe. The effects of acupuncture on NIH-CPSI, response rate, pain symptoms, and QOF were superior to the control, but standard medication significantly improved urinary symptoms compared with acupuncture. Acupuncture can decrease the IL-1β in prostatic fluid for CP/CPPS.
Keywords: Acupuncture; Chronic pelvic pain syndrome; Chronic prostatitis; Meta-analysis; Review.