[Efficacy of naftopidil for nocturia and consequent sleep disturbance in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia]

Nocturnal urinary frequency is a predominant complaint among males presenting with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which markedly impacts quality of life (QOL) and often causes sleep disturbance. We studied the efficacy of naftopidil an alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist used for treatment of BPH for improvement of nocturia and consequent sleep disturbance. Twenty-five patients diagnosed with BPH were administered daily oral doses of naftopidil (50 or 75 mg/day) for eight weeks. The symptoms were assessed quantitatively using the following criteria : International Prostate Symptoms Score (I-PSS), QOL index, frequency volume chart, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). After treatment, the mean+/-SD of total I-PSS and nocturia decreased from 16.9+/-5.2 to 10.3+/-4.9 (p<0.001) and 3.5+/-1.2 to 2.3+/-1.3 (p<0.001), respectively. In addition, all categories of storage symptoms in I-PSS were also significantly improved. PSQI results were obtained in 21 of the 25 patients, and decreased from 6.4+/-4.2 to 5.3+/-3.5 (p=0.026) (normal range: less than 5.5). This is the first report of a quantitative analysis of the effect of naftopidil on sleep quality in BPH patients. In conclusion, naftopidil appears to be an effective agent not only for nocturia and other urinary storage symptoms, but also for improving the quality of sleep.