The risk factors for acute urinary retention in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Objective: The most common cause of obstructive acute urinary retention (AUR) is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To investigate the etiology of AUR, we evaluated the relationship between AUR and histological prostatic inflammation in patients with BPH.

Materials and Methods: Between January and December of 2008, 226 patients who underwent transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for AUR or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as a result of BPH were included in the study. Patients were classified into AUR(+) (n=89) and AUR(-) (n=137) groups. The two groups were compared along the following dimensions: age, weight of resected prostatic tissue (Rt), total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) levels and the presence of inflammation in the prostatic pathology. Independent risk factors for AUR were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. P values <0.05 were considered significant.

Results: The mean age of the 226 patients was 67.7±7.7 years; the mean tPSA level was 6.45±4.97 ng/ml; and the mean weight of resected prostatic tissue (Rt) was 25.47±21.77 g. The mean age and Rt of the AUR(+) group were significantly higher than those of the AUR(-) group (p<0.0001 and p=0.031, respectively). The odds of AUR were significantly higher in the patients with inflammation than in those without (p=0.049). An age over 70 years, more than 25 g resected tissue and the presence of prostatic inflammation were independent risk factors for AUR in the logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion: Our results indicated that being older than 70 years of age, ≥25 g Rt in TURP and the presence of prostatic inflammation were independent risk factors for AUR in patients with BPH.