INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a once-daily dose of alfuzosin (10 mg) and tamsulosin (0.4 mg) in men from India with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
METHODS: In this prospective study, 100 patients with LUTS due to BPH attending general surgery and urology departments were evaluated between October 2008 and November 2009. Patients were randomly assigned to a group taking alfuzosin 10 mg or a group taking tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily, both without dose titration. The outcome measures were uroflowmetry results (Qmax, average flow rate, total flow time, and maximum flow time), ultrasonography results (PVR volume and prostate size), Quality of Life (QOL) scores, and International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS). Adverse events were recorded. Data were analyzed using t and Fisher exact tests.
RESULTS: Both alfuzosin and tamsulosin improved LUTS. All comparisons of every outcome measure (baseline to 1 month, baseline to 3 months, and 1 month to 3 months) showed statistically significant, progressive change for both patient groups. There were no significant group differences for any outcome measure. Both alfuzosin and tamsulosin were well tolerated, with similar reports of dizziness (6%), headache (4%), and asthenia (4%). The only significant group difference was for abnormal ejaculation, which was only reported by 2 of the 50 patients (4%) taking tamsulosin.
CONCLUSION: Treatment with both alfuzosin and tamsulosin significantly improved all measures of uroflowmetry, ultrasonography, and quality of life. Both medications were well tolerated, but ejaculatory abnormalities were observed only in patients taking tamsulosin.
KEYWORDS: Alpha blocker; Alfuzosin; Tamsulosin; LUTS; BPH.
CORRESPONDENCE: Mahavir Singh Griwan, MD, Department of General Surgery, Pt. BD Sharma, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, 4/6 J, Medical Enclave, Rohtak, Haryana 91, India ( ).
CITATION: UroToday Int J. 2010 Jun;3(3).
doi:10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2010.06.14