Finasteride in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A urodynamic evaluation.

A group of 69 men with bladder outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with finasteride (Proscar, MK-906), a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, 5 mg or 10 mg/day or placebo for 3 months; subsequently, 20 patients received finasteride 5 mg/day for a further 9 months in an open extension study. In treated patients dihydrotestosterone declined by over 60%, remaining unchanged with placebo. Symptom scores fell significantly in all 3 groups. Mean maximum flow rates fell slightly in placebo-treated patients but improved by 1.5 ml/s in the 10 mg group and by 3.3 ml/s in the 5 mg group. After 1 year's treatment, the reduction in symptom score and increase in flow rate were well maintained; the mean prostate volume was reduced by 14% and prostatic specific antigen declined by 28%. It was concluded that finasteride shows some efficacy in the treatment of BPH, with minimal toxicity, but 12 months of therapy or longer may be necessary to achieve maximal effect.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes