Comparative study of selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor blockade versus surgery in the treatment of prostatic obstruction

Alternative treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are the source of much discussion at present. Pharmacotherapy has been demonstrated to have an increasing role in the management of BPH. This study contrasts the efficacy of the selective alpha antagonist prazosin as compared with placebo and the subsequent improvements seen following surgical treatment. Whilst selective alpha blockade has undoubted therapeutic efficacy the improvement in symptom scores and the objective urodynamic measure of the flow rate are not as marked as those seen following surgery.