Clinical Effects of Oral Supplementation of Gamma-Cyclodextrin Curcumin Complex in Male Patients with Moderate-To-Severe Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-Related Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) in males. Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties which may be effective for BPH. This multi-arm observational study evaluated the real-world efficacy of QURMIN® (Gamma-cyclodextrin-curcumin Complex-CAVACURMIN®) as single or combination therapy for BPH. METHODS: Men with moderate-severe LUTS/BPH, receiving a 6-month supplementation with QURMIN® alone or in combination with BPH-specific medication were propensity score matched with patients not taking curcumin and then divided into subgroups based on concomitant baseline treatment. Cohorts were compared in the 6-month variation of IPSS, quality of life (IPSS-QoL), Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) and uroflowmetry parameters. Curcumin tolerability was evaluated in terms of discontinuations and adverse effects. RESULTS: The 1:1 propensity score matching resulted in a treatment-naïve (n = 152), an alpha-blocker only (AB) (n = 138) and AB + 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) (n = 78) subgroup. After 6 months, drug-naïve patients taking curcumin reported significant improvement in IPSS-storage (-3.9, p < 0.001), IPSS-voiding (-2.0, p = 0.011), IPSS-total (-5.9, p < 0.001), IPSS-QoL (-3.9, p < 0.001), BII (-2.0, p < 0.001), Qmax (+3.1 mL/s, p < 0.001), Qmean (+1.9 mL/s, p = 0.005), post-void residual volume (-7.7 mL, p < 0.001), and PSA (-0.3 ng/mL, p = 0.003), compared to controls. Patients taking ABs and curcumin showed improvement in IPSS-storage (-2.7, p < 0.001), IPSS-voiding (-1.3, p = 0.033), IPSS-total (-3.5, p < 0.001), IPSS-QoL (-1.1, p = 0.004), BII (-1.7, p = 0.006), Qmax (+1.0 mL/s, p = 0.006), and PSA (-0.2 ng/mL, p = 0.01). Patients taking curcumin and AB + 5-ARI showed improvement in IPSS-storage (-1.3, p = 0.007), IPSS-total (-1.6, p = 0.034), IPSS-QoL (-1.1, p < 0.001), and BII (-2.0, p < 0.001). No adverse reactions were reported for curcumin supplementation. CONCLUSION: QURMIN® (CAVACURMIN®) led to significant improvements in symptom burden, uroflow parameters, and QoL, without significant additional side effects, thus proving to be a potential new treatment for BPH, either as a single therapy or in addition to standard treatment.

Bipolar endoscopic enucleation versus bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate: an ESUT systematic review and cumulative analysis.

PURPOSE: To perform a cumulative analysis of the current evidence on the surgical and functional outcomes of bipolar endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (b-EEP) versus bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (b-TURP). METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed on PubMed, Ovid®, and Scopus® according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Statement (PRISMA Statement). The meta-analysis was conducted using the Review Manager 5.3 software. Parameters of interest were surgical and functional outcomes. Weighted mean difference, and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated for continuous and binary variables, respectively. Pooled estimates were calculated using the random-effect model. RESULTS: Fourteen comparative studies were included. No statistically significant difference in terms of overall baseline characteristics was found. b-EEP had higher amount of resected tissue (p < 0.0001), shorter catheter time (p = 0.006), lower Hb drop (p = 0.03), and shorter length of stay (p < 0.0001). Equally, overall post-operative complications were lower (p = 0.01) as well as short (p = 0.04), and long-term complication rate (p = 0.04). There was higher re-intervention rate in the b-TURP group (p = 0.02) whereas b-EEP group had smaller residual prostate volume (p = 0.03), and lower post-operative PSA values (p < 0.00001). At long term, b-EEP presented lower IPSS (p = 0.04), higher Qmax (p = 0.002), and lower PVR (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: b-EEP is an effective and safe surgical treatment for BPO. This procedure might offer several advantages over standard b-TURP, including the resection of a larger amount of tissue within the same operative time, shorter hospitalization, lower risk of complications, and lower re-intervention rate. This was submitted to PROSPERO registry: CRD42019126748.