Is medical therapy an expensive way for delaying surgery in BPH patients?
Nowadays, no medical therapy can be considered as a real and definitive alternative to surgery in the management of BPH patients. We considered pharmacologic approach as a treatment that may delay the need for surgery for BPH. In some cases a delayed therapy may continue for all patient life, excluding the need for TURP. The questions that we propose in the present review are: Is there always a role for a delayed medical therapy in the treatment of BPH patients? In which BPH patients a delayed medical therapy and in which instead an immediate surgery may be chosen? Which factors may influence this decision? A delayed medical therapy cannot be chosen in all BPH cases. Two factors can influence the evolution of the disease and the decision of the therapy: the first, natural history of BPH is related to BPH progression, and the second to patient characteristics. The role of growth factors in the natural history of BPH is investigated. Age of patient, his health condition and the presence of concomitant diseases are characteristics that may influence the therapeutic choice. In a young patient with good health condition and no concomitant diseases, the specific clinical phase of BPH is crucial to determinate the need for surgery of for medical delayed therapy. If there is a worsening health status or concomitant diseases as diabetes and hypertension that can increase the risk related to surgery in the future or can determine a more rapid evolution of BPH, TURP may be immediately recommended in all clinical phases of prostatic hyperplasia. The role of age in this therapeutic decision must be carefully examined.
Di Silverio
F
F
Department of Urology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome.
Sciarra
A
A
Di Nicola
S
S
Casale
P
P
Buscarini
M
M
Di Chiro
C
C
D'Eramo
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors