Interpretation of the ALLHAT interim analysis and implications for the treatment of patients with BPH.

The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) was designed to see if the effects of doxazosin, amlodipine and lisinopril were superior to those of chlorthalidone on the incidence of cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients with hypertension. Earlier this year, following an interim analysis of 24,335 patients, the doxazosin treatment arm was stopped amid reports of an increased incidence of secondary cardiovascular endpoints relative to chlorthalidone. This paper will offer some insight into the interpretation of the ALLHAT interim data, and clarify any issues around the use of alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists, such as doxazosin, in the management of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2000) 3, 152-156