Maximum flow rate--the single uroflowmetric parameter in clinical trials for benign prostatic hyperplasia?
BACKGROUND
Uroflowmetry parameters should be examined for both reliability and optimal test conditions in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), since the difference between one pre- and one post-intervention uroflow rate is usually evaluated in clinical trials of BPH.


METHODS
Reproducibility of maximum flow rate (Qmax) or its modified forms, and the effects of urinary volume on the reproducibility were examined in terms of Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) in 67 BPH patients.


RESULTS
Qmax had a higher r (0.672) as compared to other uroflow rates, such as mathematically modified forms of Qmax and adjusted values of Qmax on nomograms. Reliability was improved by bladder instillation (r = 0.811) or when voided volume was > or = 150 ml or the ratio of volumes was < 2.0 (r = 0.690-0.736).


CONCLUSIONS
Qmax, preferably performed with urinary volumes of more than 150 ml or the ratio of volumes less than 2.0, is the most practical single parameter at present in the comparison of two uroflowmetric tests in BPH treatment.
Homma
Y
Y
Department of Urology, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Imajo
C
C
Kawabe
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012212:Rheology; D014556:Urine; D014563:Urodynamics