title: Review of recent placebo-controlled trials utilizing phytotherapeutic agents for treatment of BPH.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to assess the efficacy of phytotherapeutic agents for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a review of recently published double-blind placebo-controlled trials was undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  Only those studies reviewed by the Other Medical Therapies Committee of the Fourth International Consultation on BPH were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These studies suggest a possible benefit for the use of phytotherapeutic preparations in the treatment of BPH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These studies need to be confirmed in larger long-term placebo-controlled studies in order to ascertain the true efficacy of these agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, New York 10019, USA.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dreikorn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borkowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braeckman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perrin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senge
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D008613:Mepartricin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011058:Pollen; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012434:Secale
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008613:Mepartricin