Combination Medical Therapy ( -Blockade and Androgen Suppression) in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

This is a prospective study designed to compare the outcome of two different lines of medical therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), namely:  blockers alone versus  blockers and androgen suppressors in combination. One hundred patients were included in the study, which was conducted during the period from September 1998 to March 2001. Detailed history was taken with thorough physical examination and investigations. Patients also underwent ultrasonography and intravenous urography to assess the upper tract function and postvoiding residual volume. The American Uorological Association (AUA) Symptom Score, urinary flow rate and the volume of residual urine were assessed in all patients and were used for comparison. The patients were randomized into two equal groups, each consisting of 50 patients. Those in group I were given Doxazosin (4 mg/day) alone while those in group II were given a combination of Doxazosin (4 mg/day) and Finasteride (5 mg/day). It is concluded that the results obtained with combination therapy are more promising and significantly better than those obtained with a single agent. All the parameters of comparison, i.e. the AUA score, urinary flow rate and volume of residual urine, improve with both methods but to a much greater extent in group II, the combination therapy group.