Prostate Artery Embolization Effective Long Term for Prostate-Related Urinary Symptoms

FRIDAY, March 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is effective for long-term treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology, held from March 4 to 9 in Phoenix.

Andrew Richardson, M.D., from Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness and safety profile of PAE in treating BPH with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or urinary retention. The analysis included 1,000 patients who underwent PAE for either BPH with LUTS or urinary retention from January 2014 to September 2022, with a median follow-up of 1,027 days.

The researchers found that six to 12 months after PAE, the median International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) decreased to 6, median quality of life was 1, and mean prostate size was 70.9 g. At 24 months after PAE, the median IPSS was 7, median quality of life was 1, and mean prostate size was 82.9 g; at five years, the corresponding values were 3, 1, and 69.3 g. Overall, 6.7 percent of patients required a second procedure for recurrent LUTS, with 10 undergoing a second PAE. One-third of patients (33.5 percent) reported self-limited frequency, urgency, and dysuria (Clavien-Dindo [CD] grade I) as postoperative symptoms. Additionally, three patients had nontarget embolization with penile ulceration (CD grade II), three patients developed urosepsis (CD grade IV), and three patients had transient ischemic attacks.

“Patients choose PAE to avoid the side effects of current medications for BPH, which can include erectile dysfunction, painful or difficult urination, constipation, dizziness, or fatigue,” Richardson said in a statement. “Prostate artery embolization is an alternative not just to surgery but also to lifelong medication.”