As men age, there is an increase in the frequency of pathologic diseases affecting the genitourinary tract. Most notable among these changes are the rising prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED). The pathogenesis of these conditions seems to be multifactorial and includes age-related changes in the nervous system and neuroregulatory factors, such as nitric oxide and RhoA/Rho-kinase. Various pharmacologic agents that target these pathways, such as α-blockers and PDE-5is, underscore the contribution of neuroregulatory factors on the development of LUTS/BPH and ED.
Written by:
Mazur DJ, Helfand BT, McVary KT. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611-3008, USA.
Reference: Urol Clin North Am. 2012 Feb;39(1):77-88.
doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2011.09.005
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22118347
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