This article is reply to the letter to the editor

Aim: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancer among men in the world. Prostate specific antigen is the most used biomarker for PCa diagnosis. In this study we aimed to measure the procalcitonin(PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with PCa. Methods: The patients who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy and transurethral prostate surgery in the last 4 years were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the pathology reports, group1; benign prostate hyperplasia and group2; prostate cancer. MedCalc Statistical Software version 17.6 was used for statistical analyses. Results: The current study includes 149 patients. There were 118 patients in group1 and 31 patients in group 2. The mean age of the patients was 66.85 and 69.41 years in groups respectively. Serum CRP and PCT levels was 3.33 and 0.01 in group 4.07 and 0.04 in group 2. Serum PCT levels was significantly higher in patients with PCa. Conclusion: We found that elevated procalcitonin levels was associated with prostate cancer. Further studies are needed to define the relationship between procalcitonin and prostate cancer. What’s Known: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among elderly men. Prostate specific antigen testisng is usually used in screening and diagnosis. Unfortunately PSA is not cancer specific and new biomarkers are needed for prostate cancer management. What’s New: Procalcitonin is a precursor of calcitonin which is produced by thyroid C-cells and some neuroendocrine cells. The elevated level of procalcitonin is associated with bacteremia and sepsis. In this study e investigated the procalcitonin levels in prostate cancer.

Aim: A worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which emerged in China in December 2019 affects the world very seriously. We aimed to evaluate the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who were admitted and treated to our hospital due to COVID-19. Methods: Between March 18, 2020 and April 5, 2020 , 18 patients admitted with COVID-19 who has BPH and are using medication for this were included in the study and analyzed retrospectively. Diagnosis was confirmed by COVID-19 nucleic acid test by sampling sputum or nasopharyngeal swab. Standard COVID-19 treatment protocol determined by our Ministry of Health was applied to all patients according to their risk groups. Epidemiological, clinical, radiological features, additional diseases, laboratory tests, complications and outcome data of all patients were recorded. Results: Mean age of patients was 59.6 (range: 56-73). As the mode of transmission, 10 (55.5%) of patients were infected in hospital, 5 (27.7%) patients had a relative with COVID-19 and 3 (16,6%) was unknown. During follow-up, 2 (11.1%) patients were transferred to intensive care unit (ICU). One of these patients dramatically progressed and died. Patients who survived and were not transferred to ICU had lesser comorbidities and were relatively young. Mean duration of hospitalization was 14.2 days (range 12-19). Conclusion: We think that COVID-19 patients with BPH had a low mortality rate and did not have a poor prognosis in this patient group. It is crucial to take comprehensive preventive measures to control COVID-19 transmission via hospital route.