Prostatic artery embolization and its efficacy in the reduction of nocturia

Introduction: Nocturia is a major problem in men with lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS) and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and photoselective vaporization (PVP) have been shown to reduce nocturnal frequency in 32.2% of patients by 0.8 to 1.0 episodes per night, though they carry the risk of operative morbidity. We report on the efficacy of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in the reduction of nocturia. Materials & Methods: IRB-approved retrospective study was performed of sixty-eight PAE patients performed in two U.S. centers (Site 1 n=40, Site 2 n=28). American Urological Association symptom index (AUA-SI), quality of life-related symptoms (QoL), nocturnal frequency were evaluated at baseline and at one and three-months. A paired t-test was performed to assess significance. Results: Baseline demographics demonstrated mean age 64.5 years, AUA-SI 23.9, QoL 4.8, PV 80.6 cc, and Nocturnal Frequency 3.3 episodes. 54.4% (25/46) of patients reported improvement in nocturnal frequency at 1 month and 73.7 % (28/38) at 3 months. Absolute reduction of 0.82 and 1.56 episodes per night were reported at 1 and 3 months (p