Effects of finasteride in patients with inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study

Citation
M. Leskinen et al., Effects of finasteride in patients with inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study, UROLOGY, 53(3), 1999, pp. 502-505
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Urology & Nephrology
Journal title
UROLOGY
ISSN journal
00904295 → ACNP
Volume
53
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
502 - 505
Database
ISI
SICI code
0090-4295(199903)53:3<502:EOFIPW>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
Objectives. To investigate whether treatment of inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (ICPPS) with finasteride has any influence on symptoms assoc iated with ICPPS. Methods. Forty-one patients with ICPPS were randomized (1:3) to treatment w ith either placebo (25%, n = 10) or finasteride 5 mg daily (75%, n = 31) fo r 12 months. Efficacy was evaluated by analysis of symptomatic improvement through responses to symptom questionnaires, pain evaluation on an analytic al visual scale, analgesic use as reported in patient diaries, urine flow a nd residual volume, and prostate volume. Results. Prostatitis Symptom Severity Index and prostatism scores dropped s ignificantly in patients in the finasteride group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in pain between the groups. There were significant differences in the changes of pr ostate volume and in serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations between the finasteride and placebo groups (P < 0.03 and P < 0.02, respectively). The groups did not differ with regard to side effects. Conclusions. Our results indicate that finasteride has an effect in ICPPS. The mechanisms by which finasteride works in these patients are unclear and could not be solved in this pilot study, which had relatively few patients . A further trial with larger numbers is required to confirm these results. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.