Prof. Dr. med. Karl-Friedrich Klippel
Urologische Klinik
Akademisches Krankenhaus Celle, Germany
Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Ben L. Pfeifer
Direktor für Klinische Forschung
Aeskulap Klinik, Switzerland 2003
Key Words:
Benign prostatic hypertrophy, chemoprevention, phytotherapy, transurethral resection, laser surgery, diet, life style
Summary
Effective prevention and therapy of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) has become an important health care problem in the Western World. About 70% of all men over 70 years of age will develop this disease and eventually become symptomatic requiring treatment. To date there is no reliable prevention or therapy that can alleviate all symptoms, much less cure this disease. Research into preventive measures and better therapies against this disease will therefore become a priority in health care politics. Developing rational chemo-preventive strategies for BPH requires in-depth knowledge of the etiologic factors and the pathogenesis of this disease. With this knowledge substances and treatment measures may be identified that can effectively inhibit the development of BPH and thereby benefit men at high risk for this disease in an early stage.