White blood cell count is positively associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Inflammation Research
• Men's Health

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men.
• The etiology of BPH is multifactorial, with hormonal and genetic factors well-established.
• The potential role of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in BPH pathogenesis requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between systemic inflammation markers and prostate volume.
• To explore the relationship between inflammatory markers and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 576 Japanese men.
• Prostate volume was assessed using transrectal ultrasonography.
• Associations between prostate volume and inflammatory markers (CRP, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, etc.) were analyzed using regression models.

Main Results:

• Prostate volume positively correlated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and white blood cell (WBC) count.
• Higher WBC and neutrophil counts were independently associated with larger prostate volume, even after adjusting for age, PSA, and C-reactive protein.
• Increased WBC count was also significantly associated with higher International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS).

Conclusions:

• White blood cell count is associated with prostate enlargement and LUTS severity.
• Chronic low-grade systemic inflammation may be a contributing factor in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.