Decrease of ultrasound estimated bladder weight during tamsulosin treatment in patients with benign prostatic enlargement.
OBJECTIVE
The noninvasive method for estimating bladder weight (UEBW, Ultrasound Estimated Bladder Weight) can be used as a measure of bladder hypertrophy and may have clinical use for evaluating intravesical obstruction in male patients. The aim of this study was to assess whether, in patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), tamsulosin treatment produced any significant change in UEBW.


METHODS
32 male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of BOO [benign prostatic hyperflesia (BPH) was the apparent cause of BOO] were enrolled in an open pilot study. At baseline, physical examination, ECG, hematochemical tests, urine analysis, urine culture, urodynamics, urethrocystography, transrectal ultrasound, UEBW and symptom score were performed. Using the International Continence Society (ICS) nomogram, patients were assigned to three different groups: obstructed, not obstructed and equivocal. Only patients in the obstructed and equivocal categories were treated with tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily for 6 months. Follow-up for all patients took place after 30 days, 3 and 6 months of treatment.


RESULTS
In the obstructed group of patients, the decrease in UEBW was observed at 30 days and maintained up to 6 months, with a significantly improved Qmax. A statistically significant correlation was found between UEBW and postvoid residual urine (PVR) and Abrams-Griffith number (AG).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest a significant change in UEBW during tamsulosin treatment. The change observed might be suggestive of a therapeutic effect of tamsulosin on the detrusor muscle. Further and more extensive studies are needed in order to confirm a possible therapeutic effect of tamsulosin on the detrusor muscle.
Sironi
Dario
D
Divisione di Urologia, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. dariosironi@virgilio.it
Levorato
Carlo Alberto
CA
Deiana
Gianfranco
G
Borgonovo
Giulio
G
Belussi
Domenico
D
Ranieri
Antonio
A
Lembo
Antonio
A
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077409:Tamsulosin