alpha-Blocker Monotherapy and alpha-Blocker Plus 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Combination Treatment in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; 10 Years' Long-Term Results

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We compared the effects of alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker (alpha-blocker) monotherapy with those of combination therapy with alpha-blocker and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) progression for over 10 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 620 patients with BPH who received alpha-blocker monotherapy (alpha-blocker group, n=368) or combination therapy (combination group, n=252) as their initial treatment were enrolled from January 1989 to June 2000. The incidences of acute urinary retention (AUR) and BPH-related surgery were compared between the two groups. Incidences stratified by follow-up period, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prostate volume (PV) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of AUR was 13.6% (50/368) in the alpha-blocker group and 2.8% (7/252) in the combination group (p2.0 ng/ml or PV >35 ml, combination therapy promises a better effect for reducing the risk of BPH progression.