THE CHANGING THERAPY OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA - INTRODUCTION

The diagnosis and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is i ncreasingly under review and discussion. The diagnosis of BPH can be b ased on microscopic, clinical, or urodynamic criteria, and has importa nt implications for treatment. Recommendations for treatment regimens are regularly updated, as new therapies enter the market and the cost effectiveness of new and established regimens are reviewed. Surgery, t he mainstay of treatment for BPH, is declining, and medical therapy is assuming a greater role. Pharmacological regimens, for example alpha adrenoceptor blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, are becoming e stablished for the treatment of mild and moderate symptoms of BPH. Thi s paper will review the spectrum of BPH treatment modalities facing th e urologist, and the factors that influence individual treatment choic e.