alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (alpha DFMO) and phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride in the treatment of chronic non-suppurative prostatitis.

In a single-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study in 11 patients with chronic non-suppurative, culture-negative prostatitis, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (alpha DFMO) (18 g/day) was administered orally for 1 month. Ten patients completed the study. In part II of this investigation, 60 mg/day phenoxybenzaminehydrochloride, an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocking compound (alpha ABC), was studied in 11 patients with chronic non-suppurative prostatitis in an open-phase design. Several patients had a decrease in prostate size and associated pain symptoms with alpha DFMO treatment. One patient with gross hematospermia prior to treatment had a remission on alpha DFMO and a return hematospermia on subsequent placebo treatment. Six subjects with microscopic hematuria post-prostatic palpation had a decrease in RBC counts while on alpha DFMO treatment. There was a 16% fall in hematocrit and hemoglobin following alpha DFMO treatment, which returned to pretreatment values within 2 months after stopping the drug. alphaABC distinctly improved symptoms of chronic prostatitis. Five patients remained disease free for a period of 3-6 months and 10 patients had a decrease of RBC counted in the urine. alpha ABC was accepted by the patients despite the fact of frequent orthostatic dysregulation and aspermia.