ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, has recently been used as a treatment for men with benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH). This study was undertaken to determine whether free-to-total(f/t) PSA ratio changed during the finasteride therapy in patient with BPH and whether it is possible to use this new discriminant ratio after prolonged treatment with finasteride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 31 men (mean age 66 years) with finasteride therapy for BPH. Blood samples were taken before and after 3-13months of therapy with finasteride and f/t PSA ratio is determined using radioimmunometric assay. RESULTS: Although the mean t-PSA, f-PSA are significantly decreased after the treatment with finasteride, f/t PSA ratio remained unchanged. The duration of treatment and the level of initial t-PSA did not affect the f/t PSA ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The f/t PSA ratio is unchanged among the patients with finasteride therapy for BPH.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Finasteride , Hyperplasia , Oxidoreductases , Prostate , Prostatic Hyperplasia , Prostatic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Intracavernosal self injection therapy is now being widely used to treat patients with erectile dysfunction. However, there is a large number of patients who give up the self injection program due to the fear of injection. Therefore, less invasive route of drug administration is highly recommended. We investigated the efficacy of intraurethral instillation of Prostaglandin El (PGE1 ) solution in the patients who showed full erection with intracavernosal injection of PGE1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine impotent patients who showed full erection with intracavernosal injection of PGE1 were included in this study. We estimated the grades and durations of the penile erection after intraurethral instillation of PGE1 RESULTS: Sixteen out of 29 patients(55.2%) showed full erection with intraurethral instillation. Two patients(6.9%) showed urethral pain which disappeared within 24 hours. But there was no systemic side effect CONCLUSIONS: Intraurethral instillation of PGE1 appears to be safe, well tolerated, and less invasive treatment modality Thus it can be selected as an alternative treatment of impotence in selected cases.