title: Solifenacin as add-on therapy for overactive bladder symptoms in men treated for lower urinary tract symptoms--ASSIST, randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of solifenacin add-on therapy to tamsulosin in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) men with residual overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms despite tamsulosin monotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, multicenter, double-blind study, male LUTS patients aged≥50 years with urgency episodes/24 hours≥2 and micturitions/24 hours≥8 were randomized to 3 groups: 12-weeks tamsulosin plus placebo (TAM+PBO), tamsulosin plus solifenacin 2.5 mg (TAM+SOL), and tamsulosin plus solifenacin 5 mg (TAM+SOL). Changes from baseline to end of treatment in the number of urgency episodes/24 hours (primary endpoint), micturitions, nocturia, urgency incontinence episodes, International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) were compared between the TAM+SOL groups and TAM+PBO. Safety was assessed on adverse events, postvoid residual volume, and maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six-hundred thirty-eight men were randomized. Urgency was reduced by 2.2 and 2.4 episodes in the TAM+SOL 2.5 and 5 mg groups, respectively. The TAM+SOL 5 mg group showed significant improvement compared with TAM+PBO (-2.4 vs -1.9, P=.049). The number of micturitions in both TAM+SOL groups were significantly reduced compared with TAM+PBO (both P<.001). IPSS storage symptom score and OABSS significantly improved in both TAM+SOL groups compared with TAM+PBO. Changes in IPSS voiding symptom score and Qmax. were similar in all groups. Four patients (1.9%) in the TAM+SOL 5 mg group had urinary retention, but all recovered after catheterization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In male LUTS patients with residual OAB symptoms despite tamsulosin monotherapy, TAM+SOL showed efficacy on urgency, which represents OAB symptoms and was well tolerated.
authors: Department of Urology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan. yamaosa@fmu.ac.jp
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Hidehiro
authors: H
authors: Kakizaki
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Homma
authors: Masayuki
authors: M
authors: Takeda
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Nishizawa
authors: Momokazu
authors: M
authors: Gotoh
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Yokoyama
authors: Narihito
authors: N
authors: Seki
authors: Masaki
authors: M
authors: Yoshida