Men's health Flashcards
What are the 2 main targets for tackling Benign Prostate Hyperplasia?
- Type II 5a-reductase (converts testosterone to DHT which stimulates prostate growth)
- Alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (once innervated, can stimulate smooth muscle constriction –> narrowing urethral opening)
What are the 2 components responsible for urethral obstruction in BPH?
- Static component (hormonal factors causing enlargement of the prostate)
- Dynamic component (agonism of alpha-1 receptors cause smooth muscle contraction which narrows urethral opening)
Long-term consequences of BPH
- Early phase, bladder muscle compensates the narrow urethral opening by contracting harder
- Over time, bladder muscles undergo hypertrophy
- Once detrusor muscles achieve maximum state of hypertrophy, they will decompensate
- Decompensated muscles are easily irritable to small amounts of stimuli (ie. urine)
What are the 2 types of urinary symptoms associated with BPH?
- Obstructive/ voiding symptoms (Occurs more early on in the disease course)
- Irritative/ storage symptoms (occurs several years later if untreated)
What are the signs of obstructive symptoms?
- hesitancy
- Weak stream
- Sensation of incomplete voiding
- Dribbling
- Straining
- intermittent flow
What are the signs of Irritative symptoms?
- Dysuria
- Frequency
- Nocturia
- Urgency
- Urinary incontinence (UI)
What is the definition of erectile dysfunction?
Persistent (≥6 months) inability to achieve or maintain an erection of sufficient duration and firmness to complete satisfactory intercourse
At what age are men at a higher risk for erectile dysfunction?
≥40 years old
What is the physiology of an erection?
Smooth muscles in the penis relax –> corpora cavernosa fills up with blood –> swelling of the corpora cavernosa causes a compression of the venule against the tunica albuginea –> reduced blood flow causing firmness of the penis
What are the chemical components responsible for an erection?
- Acetylcholine (ACh) –> increases Nitric oxide –> increases activity of guanylate cyclase –> increase cGMP –> smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation
- Prostaglandins E –> increases adenyl cyclase –> increase cAMP –> smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation
What is the normal serum concentration of testosterone and when should you check it?
300 – 1000 ng/dL.
Check testosterone levels when patient presents with erectile dysfunction.
What is the subsiding of an erection called?
Detumescence
Physiology of Detumescence
- Deactivating parasympathetic system (cGMP is deactivated by PDE-5 enzyme –> stops vasodilation)
- Activate the sympathetic system (Induce smooth muscle contraction via alpha-2 adrenergic receptors of the arterioles –> reduction of blood input into the corpora cavernosa)
What are the 4 main etiologies of erectile dysfunction?
- Organic ED (compromised vascular, nervous, or hormonal system, or medication-induced)
- Psychogenic ED (Performance anxiety, stress, loss of attraction, malaise, sedation)
- Mixed ED (organic + psychogenic)
- Others (smoking, alcoholism, illicit drug use, obesity)
Complications of Erectile dysfunction?
- Loss of interest of sexual activities
- Depression
- Performance anxiety
- Embarrassment
- Angry
- Low self-esteem
- Disharmony in the r/s
What medications can induce organic erectile dysfunction?
- Drugs that decreases penile blood flow (clonidine, methyldopa, beta-blockers, TZDs)
- Anticholinergics (1st gen antihistamines, phenothiazines)
- Dopamine antagonist (Metoclopramide)
- SSRI
- Drugs that decreases testosterone (finasteride, dutasteride)
- CNS depressants (benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants)
What are the different ways to assess for BPH? (5)
- Digital rectal examination (DRE)
- Ultrasonography
- Maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax)
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
- Postvoidal residual (PVR)
What is the cutoff for prostate-specific antigen to suggest the presence of BPH?
- Positively correlates with prostate volume
- PSA >1.5 ng/mL
What is the cutoff for postvoidal residual to suggest inadequate emptying due to BPH?
> 200 mL (inadequate)
<100 mL (normal emptying)
What is the severity stratification using the AUA-SI score?
Mild = AUA ≤7 –> usually asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic
Moderate = AUA 8-19 –> obstructive and irritative symptoms
Severe = AUA ≥20 –> obstructive + irritative + complications of BPH
Complications of BPH
- Recurrent UTI
- Bladder stones
- Acute urinary retention
- Urinary incontinence
- Hematuria
When is Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) considered?
Severe complications of BPH (eg. recurrent UTI, bladder stones, incontinence, acute urinary retention, hematuria)
What drugs can induce BPH?
- Anticholinergics (eg. gen 1 antihistamine, tricyclic antidepressants)
- Alpha-1 adrenergic agonists (eg. Decongestants)
- Opioid analgesics (eg. codeine or tramadol)
- Diuretics
- Testosterone
When do you not need to treat for BPH?
- Mild AUA score ≤7
- Moderate-severe AUA score ≥8 + asymptomatic/ not bothered by symptoms –> watchful wait instead
How often must you monitor a patient’s AUA score?
Annually
What are the non-pharmacological management of BPH?
- Limit fluid intake in the evening
- Minimize caffeine and alcohol intake
- Educate patient to take time to empty their bladder completely and often
- Avoid medications that can exacerbate symptoms (anticholinergics, alpha-1 agonist, opioid analgesics, diuretics, testosterone)
When to start pharmacological management for BPH?
- Bothersome symptoms
- Complications
What are the different alpha-1 antagonists available?
Non-selective (antagonize both peripheral vascular and urinary alpha-1 receptors):
1. Doxazosin
2. Terazosin
3. Prazosin (not recommended for BPH)
Selective (targets urinary alpha-1A adrenergic receptors in urinary tract and prostate):
1. Tamsulosin
2. Alfuzosin
3. Silodosin
What are the advantages of using selective alpha-adrenergic antagonists?
- Lesser risk for hypotension
- Dose titration not needed
MOA of Tamsulosin
- Reversible alpha-1A receptor antagonist
- Decrease vasoconstriction induced by endogenous catecholamines
- Binds to and inhibits alpha-adrenergic receptors on the smooth muscles of the prostate –> reduces muscle tone and reduces urethral obstruction
- Improve the symptoms related to bladder instability and tension of the smooth muscle of the lower urinary tract