Assessment of intrapelvic blood flow with the penile brachial index using a toe blood pressure cuff in Japanese patients with lower urinary tract symptoms

Purpose: We aim at investigating the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and intrapelvic blood flow. Conventionally, intrapelvic blood flow is assessed using a Doppler blood flowmeter. In this study, the penile brachial pressure index (PBI), which is a simpler tool, was used. Materials and Methods: The participants of this study were 103 male outpatients with LUTS whose PBI was measured using the form pulse wave velocity/ankle-brachial index with a toe blood pressure cuff. Data including age, body mass index (BMI), penile blood pressure, PBI, complications (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and Erection Hardness Score (EHS) were retrospectively examined. LUTS positivity was defined as an IPSS score ≥8 and LUTS negativity as an IPSS score