Haematological Parameters and Alkaline Phosphatase Levels among Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common non-malignant enlargement of the prostate in older men and is frequently associated with lower urinary tract symptoms. Systemic haematological and biochemical findings may coexist with BPH, but evidence from local Nigerian populations remains limited. Objective: This study compared red blood cell (RBC) count, total white blood cell (TWBC) count, and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity between men with BPH and apparently healthy controls and examined the relationships of ALP with RBC and TWBC counts among men with BPH. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study included 60 adult men: 30 with BPH and 30 age-matched apparently healthy controls. RBC count was measured using a Mindray BC-5180 automated haematology analyser, TWBC count was determined manually with Turk's solution and an improved Neubauer counting chamber, and serum ALP activity was measured using a Randox reagent kit. Group means were compared using an independent-samples Student's t test, and Pearson correlation was used to examine associations within the BPH group. Results: Mean RBC count was lower in the BPH group (2.51 ± 0.64 × 10¹²/L) than in controls (3.91 ± 0.65 × 10¹²/L; t = 8.41, p < .001). Mean TWBC count was also lower in the BPH group (5.60 ± 1.57 × 10⁹/L) than in controls (8.38 ± 1.65 × 10⁹/L; t = 6.69, p < .001). Mean ALP activity was higher in men with BPH (81.39 ± 22.11 U/L) than in controls (51.10 ± 16.65 U/L; t = 5.99, p < .001). ALP was not significantly correlated with RBC count (r = .01, p = .972) or TWBC count (r = -.07, p = .724). Conclusion: Men with BPH in this study had lower mean RBC and TWBC counts and higher mean serum ALP activity than controls. These nonspecific laboratory differences should be interpreted alongside clinical findings and should not be used independently for the diagnosis or monitoring of BPH.