Five-year follow-up of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia treated with finasteride

In 18 of 55 original patients who completed 5 years of treatment with finasteride, significant reductions in prostate size were noted at 1 year and sustained thereafter. Symptom scores in these same patients were significantly improved or stable over the 5 years while maximal urinary flow rates were unchanged. Data from 15 of 18 other patients who dropped out of the study before 5 years showed changes in prostate size, symptom score and flow rates that were similar to those noted in patients treated for 5 years. No side effects were noted in this study except for sexual dysfunction, which occurred in less than 5% of the patients. With few exceptions, finasteride appears to arrest the process of BPH over a 5 year period as indicated by sustained reductions in prostate size accompanied by either symptomatic improvement or stability in all other patients.