Medical Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia In Older Adults

David F. Mobley, MD, Department of Urology, Memorial City Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
Neil Baum, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Urology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Abstract
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a pervasive condition associated with the aging process. Causes of BPH include stimulation of the alpha receptors located in the prostate gland and bladder neck, or an increase in epithelial cell proliferation, resulting in enlargement of the prostate gland and subsequent passive compression of the urethra. Medical treatment consists of alpha-blockers or 5-alpha-reductase inhibition. This article will review the evaluation and the medical treatment for patients with mild to moderate BPH and provide suggestions for urologic referral.

Key words: BPH, prostate, alpha blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, PSA.