April 25, 1996

Last November I was informed by the University of Washington Department of Urology clinic in Seattle that my prostatitis showed only two anomalies: slightly increased blood circulation in 5 out of the 7 prostate zones and some calcifications (stones) in the prostate near the urethra. Dr. Krieger's research nurse said that ten years ago prostate calcifications would have been a matter of concern but seeing as how so many men seem to have them with no adverse symptoms they are now presumed benign.

The idea of prostate stones always bothered me and before I went to Manila I had no idea what they were, what caused them or why stones wouldn't be a negative thing to have in the prostate. Why wouldn't they cause problems? Wouldn't they block the small ducts leading from the
prostate into the urethra where they come out in the area of the veru? Couldn't stones be causing my extreme pain episodes, especially during and after ejaculation? Would Dr. Tarfusser's technique of clipping the veru remove such blockage?

The ignorance I had about prostate stones was eliminated with just five minutes from one of the many talks I had with Dr. Feliciano. He told me that it is believed that the stones are caused by the body's defense mechanism trying to isolate pathogens.

Let's go back to a figure from report #3 showing the infected acinus sac filled with infection being fought by the body. The pathogen is indicated by *, white blood cells by W. Notice that some of the bacteria have attached themselves to the acinus wall.

Figure 1. Early Infected Acinus Sac

As the battle rages the body can also counteract by surrounding the bacteria with calcium to isolate it. Figure 2. shows the effect of the body's defense successfully covering the bacteria with calcium represented by ( and ).

Figure 2. Infected Acinus Sac with Calcifications

The small calcified entities are now stones. In the above diagram we still show the duct as open and cleared but keep in mind that it could be clogged with detritus (see Figure 4 from my Report #3). Notice that white blood cells remain present even with the pathogen encased in calcium. This
may be the body's way of keeping its guard up in case any of the pathogen frees itself or reactivates. Could this be why so many men have a high white blood cell count on average? (In the U.S. 12, Europe 22, in the Philippines 10-18.)

David Trissel
Austin, Texas