Effect of Dutasteride on Bladder Wall Hypertrophy in Patients With Benign Prostatic Obstruction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2009-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Increased bladder mass occurs as a consequence of bladder outlet obstruction in animals and
patients, and relief of bladder outlet obstruction reverses an increased bladder mass.
Whether increased bladder mass is not only a consequence of bladder outlet obstruction but
also a relevant risk factor for the progression of lower urinary tract symptoms associated
with benign prostate hyperplasia cannot be decided due to a lack of appropriate data, most
likely because bladder wall thickness is not routinely measured in clinical studies and/or
routine clinical practice. Despite this lack of data, many urologists feel that increased
bladder mass should be prevented or decreased to reduce the occurrence of serious
complications.
The possibility of using bladder wall thickness data as criteria for benign prostate
hyperplasia intervention and as outcome criteria for benign prostate hyperplasia treatment
has been proposed. Detrusor hypertrophy associated with bladder outlet obstruction can be
imaged on suprapubic ultrasound, and bladder mass can be quantified from the evaluation of
bladder wall thickness and bladder volume. Bladder wall hypertrophy has been found to be
correlated with detrusor function.
Independent studies have shown that surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction
results in a significant decrease of bladder mass. Preliminary data suggest the possibility
that medical treatment with alpha-adrenergic antagonists might also produce a reduction of
bladder wall hypertrophy.
The investigators assume that the prevention of benign prostate hyperplasia progression by
alpha-adrenergic antagonists and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors may be result of bladder
function protection. To our knowledge there have been no studies that evaluated the effects
of a 5 alpha reductase inhibitors on bladder function. Therefore, the investigators plan to
conduct a prospective trial evaluating the effects of 5 alpha reductase inhibitors on bladder
function by the evaluation of bladder wall thickness and lower urinary tract symptoms.