Atherosclerosis as a risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and atherosclerosis, using colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and symptom scores.


METHODS
CDUS was used to evaluate prostatic vascularity in four groups of men, comprising young healthy subjects, patients presenting with coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, or peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Resistive index (RI) measurements and computer-assisted quantification of colour pixel density (CPD) were used to objectively evaluate perfusion. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function were used to quantify symptoms.


RESULTS
In diabetic patients and men with PAOD, perfusion of the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate was significantly lower (P < 0.001) and the RI of the TZ was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in healthy controls and men with CAD. In diabetics and men with PAOD, the mean prostate volume was greater than in healthy controls and men with CAD. The IPSS in patients with vascular damage (diabetes, PAOD) was significantly worse than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The significantly lower CPD and higher RI values of the TZ in patients with vascular disease than in healthy subjects support the hypothesis that an age-related impairment of blood supply to the prostate has a key role in the development of BPH.
Berger
Andreas P
AP
Department of Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. andreas.p.berger@uibk.ac.at
Bartsch
Georg
G
Deibl
Martina
M
Alber
Hannes
H
Pachinger
Otmar
O
Fritsche
Gernot
G
Rantner
Barbara
B
Fraedrich
Gustav
G
Pallwein
Leo
L
Aigner
Fritz
F
Horninger
Wolfgang
W
Frauscher
Ferdinand
F
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography