title: The Effect of Tamsulosin Treatment on Erectile Functions in Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) due to Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: Correlation between Improvement of LUTS and Erectile Function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of tamsulosin treatment on erectile function in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients with LUTS received tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily for 3 months. Subjective efficacy was assessed by International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) for LUTS and International Index for Erectile Function 5 (IIEF5) for erectile dysfunction (ED). Objective efficacy was assessed by prostate volume and urine flow rate. All measurements were performed at baseline and month 3. On the basis of IPSS ratio (month 3/baseline), the patients were classified into good responders (≤0.75) and poor responders (>0.75). Good responders to ED were defined as the patients who improved IIEF5 score 3 or more.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four subjects completed the study. IPSS score showed significant improvement, but IIEF5 score showed no significant change. Forty-three patients (58%) were classified into good responders to LUTS. The baseline score of IIEF5 in the good responders was significantly higher than that in the poor responders. Negative correlation was recognized between IPSS ratio and baseline score of IIEF5. Nine patients (13%) were able to classify into good responders to ED, who had significantly smaller prostate volume and showed significantly lower IPSS ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tamsulosin therapy for LUTS patients showed a significant improvement of LUTS, but no significant change of erectile functions. The better response to LUTS was seen in the milder ED patient. Tamsulosin therapy may be effective not only on LUTS but also on ED in the patients who have small prostate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Preventive Medicine, St. Mariannna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, JapanReproduction Center, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Preventive Medicine, St. Mariannna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, JapanReproduction Center, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Preventive Medicine, St. Mariannna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, JapanReproduction Center, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Preventive Medicine, St. Mariannna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, JapanReproduction Center, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Ofuna Chuo Hospital, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Preventive Medicine, St. Mariannna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, JapanReproduction Center, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
keywords: International Index for Erectile Function 5 score; International Prostatic Symptom Score; erectile dysfunction; lower urinary tract symptoms; tamsulosin