title: [Flutamide, an alternative for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that cannot be treated with surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effects of flutamide in patients with physical and/or mental disorders consulting for urinary symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  50 patients with BPH in whom surgical treatment was contraindicated due to their physical and/or mental condition were treated with flutamide 250 mg/day. Four patients presented with urinary retention and 46 patients had prostatic symptomatology. Patients were evaluated using the symptoms score (I-PSS) and quality of life (QL). Prostate volume was measured by transabdominal US; the maximum flow rate at spontaneous micturition and residual urine were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months, the I-PSS and QL scores decreased by a mean of 7 and 3 points, respectively. The US demonstrated that treatment had reduced prostatic volume by a mean of 10 gms. The maximum flow rate at spontaneous micturition increased 3 ml/sec and residual urine decreased by 15 ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flutamide is another alternative to surgery in specific patients with BPH.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Especialidades, Quetzaltenango., Guatemala.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Granados
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D005485:Flutamide