Bladder drainage and glandular epithelial morphometry of the prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia with severe symptoms.

OBJECTIVE Morphometrically analyze the cells nuclei of the basal layer of the prostatic glandular epithelium in 20 patients aged between 57 and 85 years presenting benign prostatic hyperplasia with severe symptoms, catheterized or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with score of severe prostatic symptoms (with indication for transurethral resection of the prostate) were distributed according to the presence or absence of bladder drainage previous to the surgery, in the treated group (n = 10, catheter during 3 months) and in the control group (n = 10, without catheter). After obtaining prostate fragments through transurethral resection and the use of morphometric techniques, 100 nuclei of prostatic glands epithelium cells were studied (as to size and form), and compared to 500 nuclei from patients submitted to catheter drainage and 500 nuclei of non-catheterized patients. RESULTS Significantly reduced values of the major, medium and minor nuclear diameters, volume, area and perimeter, contour index and nuclear volume-nuclear area ratio were observed in the treated group in relation to the control group. As to the form, eccentricity and coefficient of nuclear form, there were significant differences between treated and control groups. CONCLUSION Long-term catheter bladder drainage in patients presenting benign prostatic hyperplasia with severe symptoms is associated to the reduction of morphometric parameters of the nuclei of prostatic glands' epithelial cells, suggesting a likely decompressive duct effect.