DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.132

Pages: 3509-3512

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, is the most common benign tumor in men. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a pathologic process which may contribute to lower urinary tract symptoms in aging men. Finasteride, a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor, is an established treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The objective of the current study was to determine in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, previously treated for at least one year with finasteride 5 mg daily, if they will maintain subjective and objective improvements in urinary obstruction when treated with 2.5 mg of finasteride daily for one year. Methods: This was an open label, prospective study was carried out at Department of Surgery, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 2013 to July 2014 of involving 40 men with a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia treated for at least one year with 5mg of finasteride daily. Measurements included AUA symptom score, maximum flow rate, voided volume and PSA. Results: There were no significant changes in maximum flow rate, voided volume, or AUA symptom score after one year of finasteride 2.5 mg daily therapy. PSA increased significantly, PSA increased significantly, p <. 01, after one year of finasteride 2.5 mg daily, 2.0 +1.4 ng/ml, when compared to finasteride 5 mg daily, 1.4+ 1.0 ng/ml. Conclusions: The daily dose of finasteride can be reduced to 2.5 mg daily without significant effect on subjective and objective measures of urinary obstruction. Although statistically significant increases in PSA are noted when reducing the daily finasteride dose from 5 mg to 2.5 mg, the clinical significance of a mean. 6 ng/ml increase in PSA is questionable.