[Benign prostatic hyperplasia and evidence based medicine: its approach in clinical practice]

The contribution of evidence based medicine (EBM) methodology to the clinical practice of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients may be very helpful. Otherwise its development is incipient. BPH is still a high prevalent and far-reaching clinicopathologic entity. In the last few years, new drug and surgical therapies have emerged that have significantly changed BPH clinical management. In this article, the elements that make feasible the application of EBM to the clinical management of BPH patients are reviewed, with the aim of making this relation part of the vast extension of EBM in the different medical specialties. This objective is an answer to the double interest, on one hand, in defining the importance of this new concept of medical practice and, on the other hand, in making clinical practice suitable for solving the queries of a disease with such a variable influence in patient's welfare and quality of life. We therefore conclude that application of EBM methodology to BPH management is relevant and necessary.