Korean J Urol.  2006 Apr;47(4):372-376. 10.4111/kju.2006.47.4.372.

The Changing Pattern of Serum Prostate Specific Antigen in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia after Combined Treatment with Finasteride and alpha-blockers: the 3 Year Follow-up Data

• Soh BH
• Lee JS
• Chung BH

• KMID: 1997145
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2006.47.4.372

Abstract

PURPOSE
Some recent studies have demonstrated that finasteride, a well- known 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, can decrease prostate specific antigen (PSA) by approximately 50% during the first 1 year of treatment. We investigated how long-term treatment with finasteride and alpha-blockers impacts on the serum PSA level of men whose final diagnosis was benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In a retrospective trial, we evaluated a total of 293 men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that were suggestive of BPH. These men were divided into two treatment groups: group A was treated with alpha-blockers and group C was treated with a combination of finasteride and alpha-blocker. Comparisons of the two groups were performed by using independent t-tests. The changes in the PSA concentrations from baseline to the time of the final measurements were determined by repeated measures of ANOVA.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the baseline PSA between the two groups. A statistically significant reduction in the PSA levels was observed at 2 years in C group (p<0.05), whereas any significant increase were not observed in group A (p>0.05). In group A, the repeatedly measured PSA levels were 2.67, 2.40, 2.41 and 2.42, respectively. In C group, these were 3.22, 2.09, 1.81 and 1.71 respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed that there was no clinically significant effect of long term treatment with alpha-blocker on the PSA levels. However, finasteride had significant effect on the serum PSA level during first two years of treatment.

Keyword

Prostatic hyperplasia; Adrenergic antagonist; Reductase; Prostate specific antigen

MeSH Terms

Adrenergic Antagonists
Diagnosis
Finasteride*
Follow-Up Studies*
Humans
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Male
Oxidoreductases
Prostate*
Prostate-Specific Antigen*
Prostatic Hyperplasia*
Retrospective Studies
Adrenergic Antagonists
Finasteride
Oxidoreductases
Prostate-Specific Antigen

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The serum prostate-specific antigen pattern according to the patients' age at baseline (A) and the prostate volume (B).

• 

  Fig. 2 Serum prostate-specific antigen pattern according to the follow-up period after α-blocker treatment (A group). *,†,‡: differences with each follow-up interval.

• 

  Fig. 3 Serum prostate-specific antigen pattern according to the follow-up period after combined treatment with α-blocker and finasteride (C group). *,†,‡: differences with each follow-up interval.

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