title: The role of inflammation in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its potential impact on medical therapy.
abstract: A chronic prostatic inflammation seems to play a crucial role in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) pathogenesis and progression. Therefore, inflammation could represent a new potential target for medical therapy of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH (LUTS/BPH). This review article analyzes the evidence supporting the role of inflammation in the onset and progression of BPH, and it assesses the potential impact of previous mechanisms on medical therapy of LUTS/BPH. Literature data support the role of inflammation as a relevant factor in the pathogenesis of BPH. Indeed, several data favour the role of infiltrating lymphocytes in the development and progression of prostate adenoma as an effect of a self-maintaining remodeling process. Although available drugs commonly used in the treatment of LUTS/BPH do not exhibit an anti-inflammatory activity, it seems to be obvious considering the inflammation as a new target in the treatment of LUTS/BPH. Drugs currently investigated for the treatment of prostatic inflammation include the hexanic lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamin D receptor agonists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medical Sciences, Urology Unit, University of Udine, Academic Medical Centre Hospital Udine, Udine, Italy, ficarra.vincenzo@aoud.sanita.fvg.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ficarra
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossanese
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zazzara
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannarini
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbinante
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartoletti
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mirone
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scaglione
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy