title: [The effect of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors on benign prostatic hyperplasia].
abstract: The prevalence of BPH is high in elderly men with more than 60% of patients over the age of 60 experiencing some form of prostatism. Balancing the superior benefit of TUR/P are the small but significant risks and complications of surgery and the high cost of the procedure. The WHO guidelines recommend finasteride or alpha-blockers as treatment options for men with bothersome symptoms. Finasteride therapy reduces the volume of the hyperplastic prostate gland by more than 20%, improves the urinary flow rate and the symptoms associated with bladder outlet obstruction. Although statistically significant, results obtained with finasteride are just slightly better than placebo and TUR/P still offers the greatest improvement of symptoms. Finasteride is well tolerated and adverse events are rare. However, it decreases serum PSA (prostate specific antigen) by 50%, suggesting careful monitoring and exclusion of prostate cancer before initiation and during therapy. Current research is focusing on developing new 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (type I and II) using polyunsaturated fatty acids and nonsteroidal inhibitors. Given the multifactorial nature of BPH, further clinical trials combining 5-alpha-reductors inhibitors and 5-alpha-receptor blockers are still needed.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Urologie, Wien, Osterreich.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Djavan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McConnell
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000368:Aged; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride
vernacular_title: Der Einfluss der 5-alpha-Reduktase-Inhibitoren auf die benigne Prostatahyperplasie.