BPH

(Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP),
adenofibromyomatous hyperplasia and incorrectly referred to benign prostatic hypertrophy, is an
increase in size of the prostate.

BPH involves hyperplasia (an increase in the number of cells) rather than hypertrophy (a growth in the
size of individual cells), but the two terms are often used interchangeably, even amongst urologists.[1] It
involves hyperplasia of prostatic stromal and epithelial cells, resulting in the formation of large, fairly
discrete nodules in the periurethral region of the prostate. When sufficiently large, the nodules compress
the urethral canal to cause partial, or sometimes virtually complete, obstruction of the urethra, which
interferes with the normal flow of urine. It leads to symptoms of urinary hesitancy, frequent urination,
dysuria (painful urination), increased risk of urinary tract infections, and urinary retention. Although
prostate specific antigen levels may be elevated in these patients because of increased organ volume and
inflammation due to urinary tract infections, BPH does not lead to cancer or increase the risk of cancer.

Adenomatous prostatic growth is believed to begin at approximately age 30 years. An estimated 50% of
men have histologic evidence of BPH by age 50 years and 75% by age 80 years; in 40-50% of these men,
BPH becomes clinically significant.[2]

Signs and symptoms

Benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms are classified as storage or voiding.

Storage symptoms include urinary frequency, urgency (compelling need to void that cannot be deferred),
urgency incontinence, and voiding at night (nocturia).

Voiding symptoms include urinary stream, hesitancy (needing to wait for the stream to begin),
intermittency (when the stream starts and stops intermittently), straining to void, and dribbling. Pain and
dysuria are usually not present. These storage and voiding symptoms are evaluated using the International
Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, designed to assess the severity of BPH. [3]

BPH can be a progressive disease, especially if left untreated. Incomplete voiding results in stasis of
bacteria in the bladder residue and an increased risk of urinary tract infection. Urinary bladder stones are
formed from the crystallization of salts in the residual urine. Urinary retention, termed acute or chronic, is
another form of progression. Acute urinary retention is the inability to void, while in chronic urinary
retention the residual urinary volume gradually increases, and the bladder distends. This can result in
bladder hypotonia. Some patients that suffer from chronic urinary retention may eventually progress to
renal failure, a condition termed obstructive uropathy.

Cause

Most experts consider androgens (testosterone and related hormones) to play a permissive role. This
means that androgens have to be present for BPH to occur, but do not necessarily directly cause the
condition. This is supported by the fact that castrated boys do not develop BPH when they age. On the
other hand, administering exogenous testosterone is not associated with a significant increase in the risk
of BPH symptoms. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a metabolite of testosterone, is a critical mediator of
prostatic growth. DHT is synthesized in the prostate from circulating testosterone by the action of the
enzyme 5-reductase, type 2. This enzyme is localized principally in the stromal cells; hence, those cells
are the main site for the synthesis of DHT.

DHT can act in an autocrine fashion on the stromal cells or in paracrine fashion by diffusing into nearby
epithelial cells. In both of these cell types, DHT binds to nuclear androgen receptors and signals the
transcription of growth factors that are mitogenic to the epithelial and stromal cells. DHT is 10 times
more potent than testosterone because it dissociates from the androgen receptor more slowly. The
importance of DHT in causing nodular hyperplasia is supported by clinical observations in which an
inhibitor of 5-reductase is given to men with this condition. Therapy with 5-reductase inhibitor
markedly reduces the DHT content of the prostate and, in turn, reduces prostate volume and, in many
cases, BPH symptoms.

Testosterone promotes prostate cell proliferation, [4] but relatively low levels of serum testosterone are
found in patients with BPH.[5][6] One small study has shown that medical castration lowers the serum and
prostate hormone levels unevenly, having less effect on testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels in the
prostate.[7]

While there is some evidence that estrogen may play a role in the etiology of BPH, this effect appears to
be mediated mainly through local conversion of estrogen to androgens in the prostate tissue rather than a
direct effect of estrogen itself.[8] In canine in vivo studies castration, which significantly reduced androgen
levels but left estrogen levels unchanged, caused significant atrophy of the prostate. [9] Studies looking for
a correlation between prostatic hyperplasia and serum estrogen levels in humans have generally shown
none.

On a microscopic level, BPH can be seen in the vast majority of men as they age, in particular over the
age of 70 years, around the world. However, rates of clinically significant, symptomatic BPH vary
dramatically depending on lifestyle. Men that lead a western lifestyle have a much higher incidence of
symptomatic BPH than men that lead a traditional or rural lifestyle. This is confirmed by research in
China showing that men in rural areas have very low rates of clinical BPH, while men living in cities
adopting a western lifestyle have a skyrocketing incidence of this condition, though it is still below rates
seen in the West.

Diagnosis

Urinary bladder (black butterfly-like shape) and hyperplastic prostate (BPH) visualized by sonography

Micrograph showing nodular hyperplasia (left off center) of the prostate from a transurethral resection of
the prostate (TURP). H&E stain.

Microscopic examination of different types of prostate tissues (stained with immunohistochemical

techniques): A. Normal (non-neoplastic) prostatic tissue (NNT). B. Benign prostatic hyperplasia. C. High-
grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). D. Prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCA).

Prostate with a large median lobe bulging upwards. A metal instrument is placed in the urethra (which
passes through the prostate). This specimen was almost 7 centimeters long with a volume of about 60
cubic centimetres on transrectal ultrasound and was removed during a Hryntschak procedure or
transvesical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate through the bladder) for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Rectal examination (palpation of the prostate through the rectum) may reveal a markedly enlarged
prostate, usually affecting the middle lobe.

Often, blood tests are performed to rule out prostatic malignancy: Elevated prostate specific antigen
(PSA) levels needs further investigations such as reinterpretation of PSA results, in terms of PSA density
and PSA free percentage, rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography. These combined measures
can provide early detection.

Ultrasound examination of the testicles, prostate, and kidneys is often performed, again to rule out
malignancy and hydronephrosis.

Screening and diagnostic procedures for BPH are similar to those used for prostate cancer. Some signs to
look for include:

Weak urinary stream

Prolonged emptying of the bladder

Abdominal straining

Hesitancy

Irregular need to urinate

Incomplete bladder emptying

Post-urination dribble

Irritation during urination

Frequent urination

Nocturia (need to urinate during the night)

Urgency

Incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine)

Bladder pain

Dysuria (painful urination)

Problems in ejaculation

Management

Lifestyle
Patients should decrease fluid intake before bedtime, moderate the consumption of alcohol and caffeine-
containing products, and follow timed voiding schedules.

Medications

The two main medications for management of BPH are alpha blockers and 5-reductase inhibitors.

Alpha blockers (technically 1-adrenergic receptor antagonists) are the most common choice for
initial therapy in the USA[12][13] and Europe.[14] Alpha blockers used for BPH include doxazosin,[15]
terazosin, alfuzosin,[16][17] tamsulosin, and silodosin. All five are equally effective but have slightly
different side effect profiles.[18] The older drugs phenoxybenzamine and prazosin are not
recommended.[19] Alpha blockers relax smooth muscle in the prostate and the bladder neck, thus
decreasing the blockage of urine flow. Common side effects of alpha blockers include orthostatic
hypotension, ejaculation changes, nasal congestion, and weakness.[citation needed]

The 5-reductase inhibitors finasteride[20] and dutasteride[21] are another treatment option. These
medications inhibit 5a-reductase, which in turn inhibits production of DHT, a hormone
responsible for enlarging the prostate. Effects may take longer to appear than alpha blockers, but
they persist for many years.[22] When used together with alpha blockers, a reduction of BPH
progression to acute urinary retention and surgery has been noted in patients with larger prostates.
[23]
Side effects include decreased libido and ejaculatory or erectile dysfunction.[20]

Minimally invasive therapies

1. Gat-Goren nonsurgical method for BPH - by two Israeli doctors, Yigal Gat and Menahem
Goren (2009)
Using an interventional radiological technique that reduces prostate volume and
reverses BPH symptoms, the treatment, known as super-selective intra-prostatic
androgen deprivation (SPAD) therapy
2. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT)
3. Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA).
4. Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT)
5. Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)

Surgery

1. Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP.

2. Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP),
3. Llaser TURP,
4. Visual laser ablation (VLAP),
5. Ethanol injection, and others are studied as alternatives.
6. VLAP technique involving the Nd:YAG laser with contact on the prostatic tissue. A similar
technology called Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) with the GreenLight (KTP or
LBO crystal) laser have emerged very recently.
7. Holmium Laser Ablation of the Prostate (HoLAP)
8. HoLEP - Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

Post surgery care often involves placement of a Foley catheter or a temporary prostatic stent to
permit healing and allow urine to drain from the bladder.