Benign prostatic hyperplasia: drug and nondrug therapies

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a frequent finding in older men. Patients with symptoms have traditionally been treated with transurethral resection of the prostate, a surgical technique that effectively reduces infravesical obstruction. Nonsurgical management of BPH also has the potential to play an important role in the treatment of patients with moderate or severe symptoms or in those who do not elect surgery. Data are being evaluated to determine the efficacy of treating symptomatic BPH with such modalities as balloon dilation, prostate hyperthermia, androgen suppression, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride, and selective alpha blockers.