The measurement of the prostatic resistive index is a reliable ultrasonographic tool to stratify symptoms of patients with benign prosthatic hyperplasia.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To evaluate the correlation between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the resistive index (RI) of the transitional (TZ) and peripheral zone (PZ) of the prostate and to assess the impact of alpha blocker (AB) treatment on RI changes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: TZ-RI and PZ-RI values of 60 patients with LUTS were calculated by using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). Correlations between the severity of LUTS and RI values were established. Then, AB was given to moderately and severe symptomatic patients with LUTS. One month after AB usage, TRUS was applied to assess the impact of AB on the TZ-RI, PZ-RI and the international prostate symptom score (IPSS). RESULTS: Participants were divided into 3 groups as mild (n=14), moderate (n=25) and severe symptomatic (n=21) patients. Mean TZ-RI and PZ-RI were statistically different between the three groups (p<0.01). TZ-RI and PZ-RI were correlated with the severity of LUTS (r=0.757, p<0.01 and r=0.699, p<0.01 respectively). A decrease in symptom severity and RI values in moderate and severe symptomatic groups were significant after AB treatment. CONCLUSIONS: TZ-RI and PZ-RI values can reflect the severity of LUTS and the AB treatment decreases the TZ-RI and the PZ-RI. Measuring the RI of the prostate by TRUS can be a useful tool to stratify LUTS's severity.