[Can finasteride reverse the progress of benign prostatic hyperplasia? A two-year placebo-controlled study.]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pharmacology
• Men's Health

Context:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects a significant number of aging men.
• Symptomatic BPH can lead to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and reduced quality of life.
• Long-term efficacy of BPH treatments requires robust clinical evaluation.

Purpose:

• To assess the sustained efficacy and safety of finasteride 5 mg over 24 months in men with symptomatic BPH.
• To evaluate the durability of placebo-induced improvements in BPH symptoms and urodynamic parameters.
• To compare the long-term effects of finasteride versus placebo on BPH progression.

Summary:

• A 24-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized 707 men with moderate BPH symptoms to finasteride 5 mg or placebo.
• Finasteride significantly improved total symptom scores and maximum urinary flow rate, while reducing prostate volume compared to placebo.
• Placebo-treated patients showed initial symptom improvement that returned to baseline, unlike sustained benefits with finasteride.

Impact:

• Finasteride 5 mg demonstrates sustained efficacy in managing symptomatic BPH over two years.
• The study highlights finasteride's ability to reverse the natural progression of BPH.
• Results support finasteride as a long-term therapeutic option for men with BPH.