New Clinical Trial Looking for Participants

BPH, otherwise known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, is something you possibly never heard of, but in fact, it is one of the most common prostate issues for men as they age. 

Men who find themselves having difficulty urinating, get up at night to use the restroom or have an increased frequency to urinate, BPH may be the cause, said NorthShore Urologist Brian T. Helfand, MD, PhD, an internationally renowned physician and researcher in prostate cancer genetics.

Here, Dr. Helfand answers questions about BPH, and highlights a new clinical trial for patients interested in controlling symptoms: 

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? What causes it?
BPH is a non-cancerous growth or expansion of the prostate gland, which sits just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that drains the bladder. The prostate enlargement causes men trouble emptying the bladder and often cause bothersome urinary symptoms.

Are there certain men who are more at risk for BPH?
This problem can run in families, but is often sporadic.  The most common risk factor is increasing age.

What are the common symptoms of BPH?

BPH often causes bothersome urinary symptoms that negatively impact a man’s quality of life.  These symptoms often include difficulty emptying the bladder (slow stream, difficulty starting, feeling of incomplete emptying), as well as difficulty holding the urine (urgency to void, frequency of voiding, leakage of urine and awakening repeatedly at night to urinate).

If a patient doesn’t get their BPH treated, what are some possible complications that may occur?
BPH largely affects a man’s quality of life.  As an example, men are typically bothered by the fact that they have to frequently or urgently find bathrooms or it takes a long time to empty their bladder.   Ultimately, some men (not all) can suffer from infections, damage to the kidneys or damage to the bladder that prevents their ability to empty the bladder even if the blockage is treated.

Are there new treatments being studied?

NorthShore is currently screening patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of BPH for enrollment in the BREEZE™ clinical trial.

The BREEZE Clinical Study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Zenflow Spring® System in relieving lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. This is a new minimally-invasive treatment for BPH to relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Potential Benefits of the Spring® Treatment:

• Patient-friendly alternative to current treatment options – during Spring placement there is no piercing, cutting, or burning of prostate tissue
• Minimally-invasive treatment can be performed as an outpatient procedure
• Patients can typically return home the same day

Participation in this study is free of charge for patients who will be reimbursed for time. Prior to participating, potential risks, benefits, and treatment options will be explained to participants.

If you would like more information or are interested in participating in the trial, please contact Pooja Talaty, Urology Research Manager, at 847.503.4280 or ptalaty@northshore.org.