Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urological disease in elderly men. Epidemiological data suggest a causal link between this condition and prostatic inflammation. The prostate is an immune-competent organ characterized by the presence of a complex immune system. Several stimuli, including infectious agents, urinary reflux, metabolic syndrome, the ageing process, and autoimmune response, have been described as triggers for the dysregulation of the prostatic immune system via different molecular pathways involving the development of inflammatory infiltrates. From a pathophysiological standpoint, subsequent tissue damage and chronic tissue healing could result in the development of BPH nodules.
Nature reviews. Urology. 2016 Sep 30 [Epub]
Cosimo De Nunzio, Fabrizio Presicce, Andrea Tubaro
Department of Urology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.