Journal List > Korean J Urol > v.47(4) > 1069868

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

Abstract

Purpose

Some recent studies have demonstrated that finasteride, a well-known 5α-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 α-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 α-blockers and group C was treated with a combination of finasteride and α-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 α-blocker on the PSA levels. However, finasteride had significant effect on the serum PSA level during first two years of treatment.

Figures and Tables

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

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