Clinical Trial of Prostatic Arterial Embolization Versus a Sham Procedure to Treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The purpose of this study is to determine whether prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) compared is an effective and safe treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with severe lower urinary tract symptoms not adequately controlled by medical therapy with alpha-blockers, as assessed by the the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) after 6 months. Patients will be randomized on a 1:1 ratio to PAE or to a sham procedure and evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months. Patients randomized to the sham procedure will be offered the possibility of performing PAE after 6 months. All patients may participate on an optional 6-months extension study.

This is a randomized, parallel-group, evaluator-blind, superiority, controlled clinical trial of PAE versus a sham procedure in patients with BPH with severe LUTS not adequately controlled by medical therapy with alpha-blockers.

This study has a screening visit at day -14, a baseline visit at day -2, a randomization and intervention visit at day 0, follow up visits at months 1, 3 and 6.

Patients initially randomized to the sham procedure and who completed the 6 month follow-up period will be offered the possibility of performing PAE at no cost. All patients will be invited to participate in a 6 months post-trial extension study.

Patients over 45 years-old with a diagnosis of BPH associated with severe LUTS defined by an IPSS\>=20 after a minimum of 6 months treatment with alpha-blockers and with a prostate volume ≥ 40 mL will start a two weeks screening period. Eligible patients will be started either tamsulosin 0.4 mg q.d., alfuzosin 10 mg q.d. or silodosin 8 mg q.d., which will be maintained throughout the study period, and have the intervention scheduled for the following 2 days (study day 0), when they will be randomized to PAE or to a sham procedure if the procedure is technically feasible

Those patients in whom angiography has shown that PAE is technically feasible will be randomized to one of the study arms on a 1:1 ratio. Patients in both groups will be submitted to exactly the same procedure, except that patients randomized to the control group will not be injected with polyvinyl alcohol particles. Patients will be discharged as soon as their clinical condition is stabilized

Patients will be assessed at 1, 3 and 6 months with IPSS, QoL, IIEF, BPH-II and will perform prostatic ultrasonography, uroflowmetry and PSA at month 1 and 6. At 1 month a pelvic NMR will be performed to evaluate prostate volume and the degree of ischemia.

Patients completing the 6 month follow-up period will be invited to enter a 6 months extension study. In this extension study, patients will be evaluated at month 12 for all efficacy variables. Patients initially randomized to the sham procedure who wanted to perform PAE after the conclusion of the trial will be evaluated only at months 1, 3 and 6 after PAE.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male patients ≥ 45 years-old
* Diagnosis of BPH based on clinical history, digital rectal examination, urine sediment, transrectal prostate ultrasound and PSA
* Use of a marketed alpha-blocker for LUTS/BPH in the previous 6 months
* Severe lower urinary tract symptoms at screening and baseline defined by all the following: IPSS (7 items) ≥ 20, QoL ≥ 3, Qmax \< 12 mL/s and prostate volume ≥ 40 mL
* CTA shows that prostatic arteries are feasible for PAE
* Sexual dysfunction or accepting the risk of developing sexual dysfunction after treatment
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous surgical or invasive prostate treatments such as TURP, TUMT, TUNA, laser or any other minimally invasive treatment
* Acute or chronic prostatitis or suspected prostatitis including chronic pain, intermittent pain or abnormal sensation in the penis, testis, anal or pelvic area in the past 12 months
* History of prostate or bladder cancer or pelvic irradiation
* Active or recurrent urinary tract infections (more than 1 episode in the last 12 months)
* History of neurogenic bladder or LUTS secondary to neurological disease
* Advanced atherosclerosis and tortuosity of iliac and prostatic arteries
* Secondary renal insufficiency (due to prostatic obstruction)
* Large bladder diverticula or stones
* Detrusor failure
* Previous history of acute urinary retention
* Current severe, significant or uncontrolled disease (including, but not limited to metabolic, hematologic, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, neurologic, endocrine, cardiac, infectious or gastrointestinal, uncontrolled hypertension (systolic ≥ 160 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥95 mmHg), congestive heart failure \[New York Heart Association status of class III or IV\], myocardial infarction within 26 weeks prior to randomization), which in the judgment of the clinical investigator renders the subject unsuitable for the trial and puts the subject at increased risk
* Any bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, clotting factor deficiency, anti-coagulation or bleeding diathesis
* Hypersensitivity or contraindication to tamsulosin use
* Administration of 5-ARIs, finasteride and dutasteride in the previous 2 weeks and 4 months, respectively. These patients may be included if they stop those medications and replace them for tansulosin, alfuzosin or silodosin for at least 2 weeks and 4 months, respectively.
* Any mental condition or disorder that would interfere with the subject's ability to provide informed consent
* Participation in a study of any investigational drug or device in the previous 3 months