Continued improvement in pressure-flow parameters in men receiving finasteride for 2 years

Objectives. To assess the long-term effects of finasteride on pressure-flow parameters in men with urodynamically documented bladder outflow obstructi on (BOO). Methods. One hundred twenty-one men with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) underwent a pressure-flow study (P FS) at 1 of 11 clinical centers. The PFS technique was standardized, and al l tracings were read by a single reader unaware of the treatment group. Pat ients who were obstructed according to a modified Abrams-Griffiths nomogram were randomized to 5 mg finasteride (n = 81) or placebo (n = 40) for 12 mo nths; all patients continuing into an open extension received finasteride d uring the second 12 months of therapy. Results of the initial 12-month stud y demonstrated the benefit of finasteride treatment on PFS parameters. To e xamine the continuing effects over time, an analysis of the data from 54 pa tients who completed 24 months of treatment with finasteride is provided. Results. Detrusor pressure at maximum flow (PdetQmax) continued to decrease during the second 12 months of therapy (decreases of 5.3 and 11.7 cm H2O a t months 12 and 24, respectively). The percentage of patients obstructed by Abrams-Griffiths classification decreased from 76.2% at baseline to 66.7% at month 12 and 59.6% at month 24. An intention-to-treat analysis yielded s imilar results. Conclusions. Finasteride improves urodynamic measures of obstruction in men with BPE and LUTS, with continued improvement during the second 12 months of therapy. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc.