Throughout 2015, BPH News reported on the latest treatments, clinical trials, research updates, and events related to benign prostatic hyperplasia on a daily basis. As the year comes to an end, our Top 10 list ranks those articles that generated the most interest among BPH News readers, as registered by total views, with a brief explanation accompanying each article.
No. 10 – “Penile Cuff Test Able to Detect Obstructions in LUTS Patients”
Researchers compared a diagnostic method called penile cuff test (PCT) to the conventional pressure-flow study (PFS) to detect obstructions in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), finding PCT to be the more powerful of the two. The study, published in the Korean Journal of Urology, revealed that when compared to other noninvasive methods and PFS, PCT is a beneficial instrument for assessing patients with LUTS and has a higher diagnostic power.
No. 9 – “NxThera Publishes Rezum II Clinical Study Results on BPH Symptoms”
NxThera, Inc., a therapeutic device company responsible for the development of the Convective Water Vapor Energy (WAVE) technology platform for the treatment of BPH, published the results from its Rezūm II study in 2015. The data from the first year of this multicenter study, revealing the results of transurethral prostate convective water vapor thermal energy treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPH, was published in The Journal of Urology.
No. 8 – “Relief of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Without Surgery”
A new device called UroLift, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recently used at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, is the first procedure of its type to relieve BPH symptoms. Traditional treatment for BPH can mean surgery with side effects, including problems with urination, ejaculatory difficulty, and erectile dysfunction. This new and less invasive procedure can potentially benefit millions of men who might otherwise need chronic medication or surgery to relieve their symptoms.
No. 7 – “Study Investigates Association Between Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Metabolic Syndrome”
A relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and BPH development has been suggested in the past, but causality has not been established. In a new study, researchers compared the prevalence of MetS in patients with and without BPH. The study, published in Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, explored the connection between benign prostatic hyperplasia and metabolic syndrome in detail.
No. 6 – “Elevated PSA Levels: Not a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis”
Contrary to what many people may think, an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test does not necessarily mean a person might have cancer and needs to immediately undergo a biopsy. Dr. David B. Samadi, a urologist and chief of Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, explained in this article that while a PSA blood test is the first step in screening for prostate cancer, a digital rectal exam (DRE) should also be completed in order to deduce the probability of cancer.
No. 5 – “New Minimally Invasive Therapies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Works”
Management of BPH is traditionally handled via surgical methods such as transurethral resection of the prostrate (TURP). Though fairly successful and safe, these techniques are operator-dependent and often have significant side effects, and intensive efforts are being brought to the development of non-invasive therapies. This review described the most recent surgical and non-surgical techniques and their stage of clinical trial development for the treatment of disease-caused LUTS.
No. 4 – “Holmium Laser Enucleation Tested as Surgical Treatment for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia”
Patients who underwent holmium laser enucleation as a surgical treatment for BPH had greater satisfaction and better quality of life outcomes, according to a study published in the Urology journal. Study results supported the use of holmium laser enucleation as a reference procedure against which other potential new standards for the surgical management of BPH should be compared.
No. 3 – “Sildenafil and Tadalafil for Broad Treatment of BPH and Erectile Dysfunction”
Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, is frequent in men with BPH and urinary symptoms. The former is a type of sexual dysfunction in which the patient cannot develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual activity. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors like sildenafil (Viagra) are used to treat these two conditions independently, but there is increasing evidence supporting their use in patients with both diseases. A study, titled “Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for treating erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A comprehensive review,” concluded that in patients with both BPH and erectile dysfunction, PDE5 inhibitors should be prescribed early for better and more complete disease management. These inhibitors can be used alone or in combination with finasteride, a common BPH treatment, with good results seen in both cases.
No. 2 – “Options to BPH Surgery Growing, and Showing Promise”
For decades, the definitive surgical treatment for prostate gland enlargement, or BPH, has been transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), in which the inside part of the prostate gland is removed surgically via a scope inserted through the urethra. While frequently successful, TURP carries a significant risk of treatment-related complications. An alternative surgical technique called water ablation, reviewed in this article, is among a number of minimally invasive options showing promise as alternatives to TURP for the treatment of BPH.
No. 1 – “BPH: 4 Tips For Shrinking an Enlarged Prostate”
Medical treatments are often used to shrink an enlarged prostate due to BPH, but patients may also benefit from natural treatments. In the most popular article of the year at BPH News, an informational video presents dietary changes and other natural methods to treat the condition.
Be sure to read BPH News daily throughout 2016 for updates on the latest science, research, and advocacy news related to benign prostatic hyperplasia.