Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related condition characterized by the non-malignant growth of the prostate gland, which often leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder outlet obstruction [1, 8]. The term 'Benign prostatic hyperplasia improvement' describes a clinical outcome or therapeutic goal rather than a single molecular target [9]. The management of BPH involves several distinct biological targets, most notably the 5-alpha-reductase enzymes (SRD5A1 and SRD5A2) and alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (primarily ADRA1A) [1, 6]. 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride work by blocking the conversion of testosterone to the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which results in the gradual shrinkage of the prostate gland over several months [1, 7]. Alpha-1 blockers, such as tamsulosin, provide rapid symptom relief by relaxing the smooth muscle in the prostate stroma and bladder neck, thereby decreasing urethral resistance [6, 7]. Additionally, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors like tadalafil are indicated to improve symptoms by promoting smooth muscle relaxation and enhancing pelvic blood flow [6, 8].

Other names

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)Benign prostatic enlargement (BPE)Benign prostatic obstruction (BPO)Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPHBPH improvement

Improvement is achieved by decreasing prostate volume through the inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase (reducing DHT levels) and by relaxing the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder neck through alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blockade [1, 6, 8].