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Etiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia
1Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, Md. 21231.
European Urology
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) progresses from microscopic to macroscopic stages, but not all men develop symptomatic disease. Successful BPH treatment focuses on preventing the progression to clinical symptoms, not just prostate enlargement.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pathology
- Men's Health
Background:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men.
- BPH natural history involves pathologic (microscopic, macroscopic) and clinical phases.
- Symptomatic dysuria is a hallmark of the clinical phase of BPH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the natural history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
- To differentiate between pathologic and clinical phases of BPH.
- To identify factors influencing BPH progression to symptomatic disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of the natural history of BPH.
- Analysis of progression from microscopic to macroscopic BPH.
- Examination of factors leading to clinical BPH development.
Main Results:
- Nearly all men develop microscopic BPH with age.
- Only 50% of men with microscopic BPH progress to macroscopic enlargement.
- Only 50% of men with macroscopic BPH progress to clinical BPH with symptoms.
- Macroscopic enlargement alone is insufficient for clinical BPH; additional factors are implicated.
Conclusions:
- BPH progression is a multifactorial process.
- Therapeutic strategies should aim to prevent or reverse progression to clinical BPH.
- Focusing on preventing pathologic BPH is not the primary treatment goal.