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Long-term (7 to 8-year) experience with finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
D Vaughan1, J Imperato-McGinley, J McConnell
1Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Urology
|December 12, 2002
Summary
Long-term finasteride treatment effectively improved benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, reduced prostate size, and enhanced urinary flow in men over 7-8 years. This study confirms finasteride
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects a significant number of aging men.
- Symptomatic BPH can lead to lower urinary tract symptoms and reduced quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term efficacy and safety of finasteride in managing BPH.
- To evaluate the effects of finasteride on BPH symptoms, prostate volume, and urinary flow over 7 to 8 years.
Main Methods:
- 190 men with symptomatic BPH and enlarged prostates participated in Phase II studies.
- 156 patients received open-label finasteride, with over 70 completing 7-8 years of treatment.
- Symptom assessment via modified Boyarsky questionnaire, prostate volume by MRI/ultrasonography, and urinary flow rate measured noninvasively.
Main Results:
- Finasteride treatment demonstrated sustained improvement in BPH symptoms.
- Significant reduction in prostate volume (28%) and increase in urinary flow (median 2.5 mL/s) were observed.
- Dihydrotestosterone and prostate-specific antigen levels decreased and were maintained; treatment was safe and well-tolerated.
Conclusions:
- Long-term finasteride use is well-tolerated.
- Finasteride provides durable relief from BPH symptoms.
- Sustained improvements in prostate volume and urinary flow are achieved with long-term finasteride therapy.