Prostate Artery Embolization significantly improves symptoms of lower urinary tract

Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an increasingly used minimally invasive treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). A study was conducted to analyze the impact of PAE on voiding and storage symptoms.

Between July 2014 and May 2019, 351 consecutive men with BPO who underwent PAE were included in a single-centre study. PAE is an interventional radiological procedure embolizing the prostatic arteries with microspheres.

The primary endpoint represented assessment of the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 mo after PAE. Secondary endpoints comprised assessment of IPSS quality of life (QoL), International Index of Erectile Function, peak urinary flow rate, postvoid residual volume, prostate volume, and prostate-specific antigen at the same time points. Data were analyzed using standard statistical methods, generalized estimating equations (symptom improvement over time as odds ratios), and the McNemar-Bowker test (degree of improvement compared between symptoms).

Results of the study are:

Clinical success rates for PAE were 68%, 73%, and 66% at 1, 12, and 24 mo, respectively. The median IPSS improved significantly from 22 to 10 points after 2 yr (p < 0.001). Storage (–50%) and voiding (–58%) symptoms improved similarly (each p < 0.001), with nocturia decreasing least frequently but significantly (p < 0.001). After 1 and 2 yr, 35% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29–41%) and 30% (95% CI 21–40%) of patients reported alleviated storage, and 39% (95% CI 33–45%) and 38% (95% CI 29–49%) reported alleviated voiding symptoms, respectively. QoL improved from 5 to 2 points (p < 0.001).

Thus, PAE significantly improved voiding and storage symptoms to a similar extent. This study may aid in counselling patients about this minimally invasive BPO treatment.

Reference:

Influence of Prostate Artery Embolization on Different Qualities of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Obstruction by Anne Tabea Theurich et al. published in the European Urology.

https://www.eu-focus.europeanurology.com/article/S2405-4569(22)00034-7/fulltext

Keywords:

Significant improvements, urinary tract symptoms, uti, urinary tract infection, PAE, Prostate Artery Embolization, European Urology, Focus, Anne Tabea Theurich, Lutz Leistritz, Katharina Leucht, Tobias Franiel, Ulf Teichgräber, Susan Foller, Marc-Oliver Grimm, Different Qualities, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Benign Prostatic Obstruction, Benign prostatic obstruction, International prostatic symptom score, Storage symptoms, Voiding symptoms