TempSLE and PVA Microspheres Improve Outcomes in Prostatic Artery Embolization for BPH

A retrospective study has shown that combining a temperature-sensitive liquid embolic agent (TempSLE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres enhances the efficacy of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), compared to PVA microspheres alone.

The study included 39 men with symptomatic BPH, 21 treated with PVA microspheres alone and 18 with a combination of PVA microspheres and TempSLE.

The following clinical parameters were assessed before and at one and three months after the procedure:

• Prostate volume (PV)
• Post-void residual volume (PVR)
• Peak urinary flow rate (Qmax)
• International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
• Quality of life (QoL)
• Total prostate-specific antigen (T-PSA)

Both groups exhibited significant improvements in all clinical parameters by three months post-PAE (P < 0.05). However, the TempSLE + PVA microspheres group achieved greater reductions in PV and PVR and showed more substantial improvements in Qmax, IPSS, and QoL scores (P < 0.05) compared to the PVA-only group.

Additionally, prostate necrosis rates were higher in the combination group, reflecting greater targeted tissue impact. Adverse events were minimal, with a single case of transient gross hematuria reported in the combination group.

These findings suggest that TempSLE combined with PVA microspheres enhances the efficacy of PAE for BPH, offering a safe and more effective approach to managing LUTS while ensuring minimal complications.