Relationship Between Second to Fourth Digit Ratios and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Aging Men

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Endocrinology
• Human Anatomy

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men, with testosterone implicated in its development.
• The second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) serves as a marker for prenatal androgen exposure.
• A lower 2D:4D ratio is associated with higher prenatal androgen exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and the incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 35 BPH patients, 35 non-BPH subjects, and 35 controls.
• Measurement of the 2D:4D ratio from scanned images of both hands for all participants.
• Clinical and radiological evaluation to determine BPH status.

Main Results:

• BPH patients exhibited a lower 2D:4D ratio in both hands compared to non-BPH subjects.
• BPH patients had a significantly lower right-hand 2D:4D ratio compared to controls.
• Non-BPH subjects showed a higher left-hand 2D:4D ratio compared to controls, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with lower 2D:4D ratios demonstrate a higher risk of developing BPH.
• Conversely, a higher 2D:4D ratio is associated with a lower risk of BPH incidence.
• The 2D:4D ratio may serve as a predictive marker for BPH risk.