"The More Severe Prostatitis Is, the Higher the Risk of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Complications"

Nowon Eulji University Hospital Professor Junho Lee's Research Team
"Active Treatment Recommended if Both Prostatitis and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Are Present"

Professor Junho Lee, Department of Urology, Nowon Eulji Medical Center.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been found that if you have moderate or higher prostatitis, symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) worsen or the incidence of complications is higher.

A research team led by Professor Junho Lee of the Department of Urology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital conducted a large-scale study comparing predictors of BPH worsening and complications between 445 patients with moderate or severe prostatitis and 5,390 patients without any prostatitis symptoms, confirming these findings on the 9th.

The research team compared the rates of major predictors of BPH worsening and complications based on the presence or absence of prostatitis: ▲low urine flow rate (10.6 ml/sec or less) ▲high BPH questionnaire score (20 points or more) ▲high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (1.6 ng/ml or more) ▲large prostate volume (31 cc or more).

As a result, the proportion of major predictors of BPH worsening and complications was 1.9 times higher in patients with prostatitis symptoms compared to the general population.

Prostatitis mainly causes discomfort or pain during urination or ejaculation. The research team explained that this is the first study to reveal that having prostatitis symptoms increases the likelihood of worsening BPH symptoms or complications caused by BPH. Chronic inflammation within prostate cells that causes prostatitis is a factor that exacerbates BPH symptoms.

Professor Junho Lee stated, "Although prostatitis and BPH are separate diseases, they can occur simultaneously in some patients. If BPH is not well managed, it can lead to complications such as urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, acute urinary retention, and renal dysfunction. When prostatitis and BPH coexist, the probability of serious BPH complications in the future may increase, so active treatment is necessary."

This paper was published in the latest issue of the SCI international journal 'Prostate International.'

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