The overlapping lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship, diagnosis and treatment of the overlapping lower urinary tract symptoms experienced by men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis.


RESULTS
Recent studies have clearly shown that men can suffer from both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. Approximately 5-20% of men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia suffer from prostatitis-like symptoms, while over one third of men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia have had a diagnosis of prostatitis in the past. Differentiation between these two symptom-based medical conditions can be difficult because of overlapping symptoms, but pain clearly identifies those patients with chronic prostatitis. Treatment for men with co-occurring benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis may include alpha-blockers, 5alpha-reductase inhibitors and phytotherapies (saw palmetto and bee pollen extract), with evidence clearly showing the benefits of alpha-blocker therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Benign prostatic hyperplasia and chronic prostatitis are a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms and frequently co-occur in older men. The best treatment for men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis is alpha-blockers.
Nickel
J Curtis
JC
Department of Urology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. jcn@post.queensu.ca
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists