RESUMO
Polyamines are non-specific marker of cellular proliferation in many malignant tumors, and it is also increase in certain benign conditions. We measured the urinary polyamines to investigate the possibility as a marker of abnormal prostate growth and the correlation with various clinical parameters. Urinary polyamine concentrations in 27 cases of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were compared with those in 32 cases of age matched normal controls. Urinary concentration of polyamine profiles were quantitatively determined by Gas Chromatography/Nitrogen Phosphorus Detector and they were calculated by the correction of gram creatinine. The concentrations of N-acetyl putrescine, N-acetyl cadaverine, spermidine(spd), N1-acetyl spermidine, N8-acetyl spermidine, and spermine(spm) showed significant increase in BPH compared with normal control(all p<0.05). Level of serum prostate specific antigen(PSA) in BPH patients was negatively correlated with the concentration of urinary spermidine(p=0.049). And the ratio of spm/spd correlated with the level of prostate volume(p=0.046). No significant correlations was found between other clinical parameters such as age, level of hemoglobin or erythrocyte count with polyamine profiles concentration. These data suggested that urinary concentration of polyamines in BPH are elevated compared with those in normal control. Altered regulation of the biosynthesis and metabolism of spermidine and spermine may be involved in BPH.