Lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients: orchestrated by chronic prostatic inflammation and prostatic calculi?.

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between chronic prostatic inflammation and prostatic calculi, and clinical parameters of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: This study was based on 225 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for BPH. Chronic inflammation was graded as 0 (n = 44), I (n = 54), II (n = 88) or III (n = 39) according to severity. Prostatic calculi were classified into types A (n = 66), B (n = 44), M (n = 77) and N (n = 38). The relationship between inflammation and calculus type was analyzed, and clinical parameters of BPH were compared for each group. Results: There was no correlation between severity of inflammation and calculus type. Prostatic volume increased with the severity of inflammation and showed significant differences between G2, G3 and G0. The International Prostate Symptom Score also increased with increasing inflammation. There was no significant difference between each clinical parameter according to calculus type. Conclusions: Prostatic calculi had no significant association with chronic inflammation and clinical parameters of BPH. Chronic inflammation was associated with the volume of the prostate and storage symptoms; thus, it is not only presumed to be related to the progression of BPH, but may also be one of the causes of lower urinary tract symptoms. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel