title: Too stringent patient selection criteria in a clinical trial of alpha-blockers reduce the value of the results.
abstract: The patient selection criteria in a clinical trial of an alpha-blocker for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy were such that 85% of the patients on the waiting lists of 4 hospitals had to be excluded. The value of such a trial is discussed. Trial protocols should be designed to allow the enrollment of patients truly representative of the patients for which the treatment is intended.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, London, UK.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010919:Placebos; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014850:Waiting Lists
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D010919:Placebos