Biomarcadores en la Hiperplasia Prostática Benigna (HPB)

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common conditions in men over 50 years of age. This disease involves a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate, leading to obstructive symptoms in the lower urinary tract, such as difficulty urinating, increased urinary frequency, and intermittent or weak urination, which significantly affects the patient's quality of life. Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the standard biomarker for evaluating various prostate diseases, its low specificity has limited its usefulness in the differential diagnosis between BPH and prostate cancer (PCa). This lack of specificity has led to the search for alternative biomarkers that can improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce misdiagnoses, and provide a more precise assessment of disease progression. Biomarkers such as procalcitonin (PCT), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), particularly its beta subunit, have been proposed as promising diagnostic tools. These biomarkers can not only improve diagnostic ability but also offer non-invasive monitoring of prostate inflammation and BPH progression, helping to personalize treatment for each patient. This article reviews the relevant scientific literature examining the relationship between these biomarkers and BPH, exploring their clinical utility in diagnosing and monitoring the disease, as well as the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms linking them to prostate disease progression.