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Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), is a common diagnosis among the ageing male population with increasing prevalence. Many risks factors, both modifiable and non-modifiable, can increase the risk of development and progression of BPH and LUTS. The symptoms can be obstructive (resulting in urinary hesitancy, weak stream, straining or prolonged voiding) or irritative (resulting in increased urinary frequency and urgency, nocturia, urge incontinence and reduced voiding volumes), or can affect the patient after micturition (for example, postvoid dribble or incomplete emptying). BPH occurs when both stromal and epithelial cells of the prostate in the transitional zone proliferate by processes that are thought to be influenced by inflammation and sex hormones, causing prostate enlargement. Patients with LUTS undergo several key diagnostic investigations before being diagnosed with BPH. Treatment options for men with BPH start at watchful waiting and progress through medical to surgical interventions. For the majority of patients, the starting point on the treatment pathway will be dictated by their symptoms and degree of bother.

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Figure 1: BPH.
Figure 2: Incidence of lower urinary tract symptoms.
Figure 3: Role of testosterone in BPH.
Figure 4: Transrectal ultrasonography.
Figure 5: Management algorithm for men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

As the clinical fellow in voiding dysfunction at Weill Cornell Medical College, J.C.F. is supported by ‘The Frederick J. and Theresa Dow Wallace Fund of the New York Community Trust’.

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Contributions

Introduction (B.C. and S.A.K.); Epidemiology (D.D.M.T. and B.C.); Mechanisms/pathophysiology (J.C.F., L.L. and B.C.); Diagnosis, screening and prevention (J.C.F. and A.E.T.); Management (T.H. and H.H.W.); Quality of life (J.C.F. and A.E.T.); Outlook (D.D.M.T. and B.C.); Overview of the Primer (S.A.K.). B.C. and J.C.F. contributed equally to this Primer.

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Correspondence to Steven A. Kaplan.

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H.H.W. has received speaker's fees from Astellas and Janssen. All other authors declare no competing interests.

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Chughtai, B., Forde, J., Thomas, D. et al. Benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2, 16031 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2016.31

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