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Category
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Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) / Voiding Dysfunction |
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Research Type
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Pure and Applied Science / Translational |
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Keywords
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BPH/BOO/LUTS sGC Activators PDE5 Inhibitors |
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Aims and Objectives
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BPH can result in bladder outflow obstruction and development of LUTS, and by 80 yrs of age is present in about 75% of men. Pharmacological therapies include alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and the PDE5 inhibitor, tadalafil. The efficacy of tadalafil suggests a role for nitric oxide (NO•) through activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and production of cGMP - a smooth muscle relaxant, but also an antifibrotic agent. However, patients can become refractory to tadalafil due to nitrergic nerve damage, or sGC inactivation from oxidative stress. We will discuss how sGC activators augment cGMP production under conditions when the NO• pathway is compromised to manage BPH, LUTS and fibrotic development.
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