BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA - HORMONAL TREATMENT

Since the development of BPH requires testicular androgens, it is reas onable to assume that androgen withdrawal therapy would have a benefic ial effect on prostatic growth. Clinical series' utilizing androgen wi thdrawal demonstrate a reduction in prostatic size that averages 20% t o 30%, with modest improvement in symptoms and uroflow. Of the availab le forms of hormonal therapy, only a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor thera py has an appropriate safety profile to offset this Limited clinical i mprovement. Finasteride, the only FDA approved agent in this class, pr oduces acceptable clinical improvement with short term risks limited t o a 3% to 4% probability of sexual dysfunction. Clinical improvement a ppears to be maintained up to four years, but prevention of disease pr ogression has not been clearly established.