title: 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors and Combination Therapy.
abstract: By inhibiting the conversion from testosterone to dihydrotestosterone 5-Alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) are able to hinder prostatic growth, shrink prostate volumes, and improve BPH-related LUTS. 5ARIs are particularly beneficial for patients with larger prostates (>30-40ml). Generally the side effects of 5ARI treatment are mild, and according to the FORTA classification 5ARIs are suitable for frail elderly. 5ARI / alpha-blocker (AB) combination therapy showed the best symptomatic outcome and risk reduction for clinical progression. Combining Phosphodieseterase type 5 inhbibitors (PDE5Is) with 5ARIs counteracts the negative androgenic sexual side effects of 5ARIs, and simultaneously combines their synergistic effects on LUTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 6, Rostock 18057, Germany. Electronic address: Claudius.fuellhase@uni-rostock.de.
authors.forename: Claudius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Füllhase
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich 8057, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marc P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: 5-Alpha-reductase inhibitors; Combination drug therapy; Dutasteride; Finasteride; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Prostatic hyperplasia