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Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of BPH.


Alternative Names

Enlarged prostate


Highlights

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto, a popular herbal remedy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), does not work any better than placebo, according to an important 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine . Researchers assigned 225 men with moderate-to-severe BPH to take either placebo or saw palmetto daily for 1 year. Results showed no differences in symptoms between the two groups.

BPH and Kidney Disease

BPH is associated with chronic kidney disease, according to a 2006 study in Kidney International . The study found that men who have a bladder obstruction from BPH are three times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than other men.

Drug Treatment

Investigational Drugs

Botulinum toxin A (Botox) may be a helpful new treatment for BPH, according to research presented at the 2006 American Urological Association meeting. Researchers injected Botox into the prostate glands of 41 men with BPH. Eighty percent of patients were able to completely empty their bladder within 1 - 4 weeks after treatment. For some patients, symptom improvement lasted up to 1 year.


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