Benign prostatic hyperplasia
It is the enlargement of the prostate gland caused by a relative increase estrógeó (female hormones) on testosterone (male hormone) that comes with age in men.
Prostate cells have receptors sensitive to testosterone and estrogens, when the balance varies by age this imbalance stimulates the production of cell growth factors resulting in the progressive enlargement of the gland which can vary depending on other factors.
Other predisposing factors to the increasing size of the prostate are the existence, in people over 70 years, obesity, hypertension, impaired carbohydrate to insulin resistance and alterations in blood fats. In these cases the prostate volume is four times higher and faster than people the same age without these added factors.
The differential diagnosis with prostate adenocarcinoma is established through:
- Quantification of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in blood is measured as the total value as the ratio of free PSA and total PSA
- Prostate ultrasound and prostate-index: quantifying the size of the prostate and PSA relates to the larger size is suggestive of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Finally the most reliable test is the prostate biopsy, although it is sometimes very complex differentiated adenocarcinoma of the benign prostatic hypertrophy.
His prognosis is good, usually causes urinary syndrome and treatment with antiandrogens usually have good results in the case of the prostate is greater than 40 g, but drug treatment is always aimed at improving or reducing the symptoms and irritative obstrubtivos in latter are those that diminish quality of life of patients. This treatment of the symptoms is done with alpha-blockers, which relax the smooth muscle of the urethra and the bladder relaxes allowing almost normal urination and turn avoid the most important complication is acute urinary retention RUA.
 |