Purpose of review: Therapeutic tools for classic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) have focused on the dynamic component of obstruction and/or elimination of the static component via surgical or pharmaceutical therapies. Unfortunately, an exact cause for this disease process has not been identified, but additional insight has been achieved. This article presents an update of the BPH literature with a special focus on basic science or translational studies concerned with the cause of clinically significant BPH with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Recent findings: Investigators are exploring connections between BPH with clinically significant LUTS, the metabolic syndrome, inflammation, alterations in cell signaling, and genetics which in turn has provided additional information concerning the pathogenesis, medical therapies as well as surgical therapies.
Summary: BPH is a chronic, progressive disease with important care implications and financial risks to the healthcare system. Continued improvements in length of life will demand that we unlock the cause of LUTS secondary to BPH with the goal of prevention as the ideal therapy. Studies reported in the last year contributed to our understanding of the disease process and provide insight for additional studies.