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Other Prostate Disorders

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Although not life-threatening, an enlarging prostate, a.k.a. BPH can cause clinically significant urinary problems in roughly 25% of all men over 60. There are some studies underway that indicate a reduced risk of prostate cancer for men undergoing treatment for BPH. Please also note that treatment for BPH may artificially lower PSA, so annual prostate screening and tracking velocity become even more important. This abstract nicely summarizes the well known Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT): The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). Relevance for clinical practice, 1: Urologe A. 2007 Oct;46(10):1364, 1366-8, 1370, Schmitz-Dräger BJ, Fischer C, Bismarck E, Dörsam HJ, Lümmen G.

Prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate, is a potentially debilitating disease that affects men of all ages. Its impact on quality of life has been examined using various measures. Studies have shown that the quality of life for a patient with chronic prostatitis is similar to that experienced by patients with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or active Crohn disease. Overall, the prevalence of prostatitis is between 5% and 9% of the male population aged 18 years and older. There are some studies underway that indicate a possible connection between chronic inflammation and prostate cancer.

Inflammation, atrophy, and prostate carcinogenesis, Urol Oncol. 2007 Sep-Oct;25(5):398-400. De Marzo AM, Nakai Y, Nelson WG.
Prostate growth and inflammation J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Sep 7, Sciarra A, Mariotti G, Salciccia S, Gomez AA, Monti S, Toscano V, Di Silverio F.
The role of inflammation and infection in the pathogenesis of prostate carcinoma, 1: BJU Int. 2007 Oct;100(4):733-7. Epub 2007 Jul 23, Wagenlehner FM, Elkahwaji JE, Algaba F, Bjerklund-Johansen T, Naber KG, Hartung R, Weidner W.