EFFECT OF TERAZOSIN ON PROSTATISM IN MEN WITH NORMAL AND ABNORMAL PEAK URINARY FLOW-RATES

Objectives. To determine if men with normal peak urinary flow rates (P FR) and prostatism respond to terazosin. Methods. Forty-one men over t he age of 50 years with an American Urological Association (AUA) sympt om score greater than 8, postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) less tha n 300 mL, and no clinical or biochemical evidence of prostate cancer w ere treated with terazosin independent of the baseline PFR. The effect of terazosin on the AUA symptom score and PFR were compared for subje cts with a PFR of 15 mL/s or less (group I) and those with a PFR great er than 15 mL/s (group II). Results. The baseline age, AUA symptom sco re, prostate volume, and PVR were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean changes in AUA symptom score were -45.0% and -49.5% for groups I and II, respectively. The mean changes in PFR were 7.0% and -26.6% for groups I and II, respectively. Conclusions. The e ffect of terazosin on AUA symptom score is independent of baseline PFR , indicating that the mechanism of action of terazosin is not exclusiv ely mediated by reduction of bladder outlet obstruction. Randomized co ntrolled studies are required to confirm this provocative observation. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.