title: Lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction: are these conditions related to vascular dysfunction?
abstract: Although the pathogenesis of lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction is poorly understood and thought to be multifactorial, it has been traditionally recognized that these conditions increase with age. There is increasing evidence that there is an association between cardiovascular disease and lower urinary tract symptoms as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction in elderly patients. Age might activate systemic vascular risk factors, resulting in disturbed blood flow. Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis are also linked to the etiology of lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction. In the present review, we discuss the relationship between decreased pelvic blood flow and lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic enlargement and erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, we suggest possible common mechanisms underlining these urological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan.
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsounapi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.forename: Motoaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology*; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*
keywords: benign prostatic enlargement; benign prostatic hyperplasia; erectile dysfunction; lower urinary tract symptoms; pelvic blood flow; urinary bladder