[Prostatic benign hypertrophy: review of effectiveness, tolerance, and impact on quality of life of prolonged treatment with alfuzosin].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of Alfuzosin in terms of long term effect in BHP patients. To analyze the effectiveness according to the observer, the treatment compliance and the tolerance of alfuzosin, and specifically, cardiovascular and sexually adverse events. Also, to define the clinical profile of the BPH patients that spontaneously seek medical treatment in Spain.


METHODS
Observational, descriptive, multicentric and 6-month retrospective study. DATA SOURCES AND COLLECTION: From the patient reports of BPH patients treated with alfuzosin during more than 6 months, data gathered were, along with usually anamnesic data and physical exploration (age, symptoms, blood pressure, e.g.), those related to treatment response, effectiveness, compliance and tolerance of Alfuzosin in the first and second quarter. Data of the 1635 patients initially recruited were considered to define the clinical profile of this population. Effectiveness and tolerance analysis were undertaken with the 911 patients who followed the treatment during the 6-month study.


RESULTS
After 6 months of treatment an improvement of the mean intensity of each of the urinary symptoms were statistically significant (p < 0.005). Also, the mean score of each of the analyzed variables and of the I-PSS global score were reduced significantly (p < 0.005). After 6 months of treatment the effectiveness evaluated by the observer was good or very good for the 88.5% of the patients. Treatment compliance was very good; from the 911 patients finishing the study, 96.4% continued with the initially prescribed treatment. Just 16 patients (3%) developed adverse events; measures undertaken were to modify the dosage or to interrupt the treatment (2 cases). The specific study of cardiovascular adverse events showed a mild reduction in the systolic (142 mmHg versus 137.86 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (83.53 mmHg) versus 80.72 mmHg), and the heart rate (76.80 l/m versus 76.04 l/m). The mean score of sexual life showed an improvement in all the items studied, although very slight.


CONCLUSIONS
The usefulness, effectiveness and tolerance of a long term treatment with alfuzosin in HPB patients was confirmed. Alfuzosin is considered a first choice treatment in patients with the clinical profile described.
Vela Navarrete
R
R
Cátedra y Servicio de Urología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid.
Gabriel
R
R
Barajas
R
R
Ausín
I
I
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011799:Quinazolines; C047638:alfuzosin