Evaluation of Diclofenac (DCF) Potassium as a Possible Predisposer of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Albino Rats

Background: Diclofenac (DCF) is a drug widely consumed in developing countries like Nigeria, because of its fast and immediate effect on pains. Objectives: The high number of adult males falling victims to BPH made DCF a suspect in the predisposition to BPH. Methods: Thirsty Six (36) Male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group 1; the Normal control (NC) was injected subcutaneously with olive oil only, Group 2; standard group treated with testosterone Propionate in olive oil (3 mg / kg b.wt.). Groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with Diclofenac, potassium in solution as low (2 mg / kg b.wt.), mid (4 mg / kg b.wt.), and high (6 mg / kg b.wt.) doses respectively. All animals were fed same diets throughout the twelve (12) weeks. After this period, the rats were allowed to fast overnight then Blood samples were collected and analyzed for liver function, kidney function, lipid profile, prostate specific antigen (PSA), and haematological parameters. Results: The result showed an elevation in liver parameters; ALT, ALP, AST, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin in the treatment groups compared to the control. Conversely, the concentration of Na+, Cl- and HCO3- revealed no significant difference compared to the control while urea and creatinine increased significantly. Haematological parameters showed increase in WBC, PCV, PLT in the treatments groups while RBC, Hg, MCV decreased. For lipid profile; Total cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL increased significantly in the groups treated with mid and high dose DCF. Conclusion: The level of PSA was found to increase in all the treatment groups compared to the control. This result revealed that DCF-Potassium at high concentration can inter fare with the liver and kidney functions, lipid profile and haematological parameters as well as increasing PSA level. Thus, we conclude that persistent consumption of DCF can likely predispose to BPH.