ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of the selective alpha1a and alpha1d antagonist (tamsulosin 0.2 mg) once daily in the treatment of patient with lower urinary tract symptom(LUTS), especially irritative symptom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 170 men with LUTS were treated for 12 weeks with tamsulosin 0.2 mg/day. The primary efficacy parameters are improvements in total, irritative and obstructive International Prostate Symptom Scores(IPSS), quality of life index(QOL index) and peak urinary flow rate(Qmax). Secondary efficacy parameters include percentage of patients with improvement in total, irritative and obstructive IPSS of at least 25%, Qmax of at least 30% and 3 ml/s increase in Qmax. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in all efficacy parameters were observed. Tamsulosin produced improvements in Qmax(21.7%), decrease in total, irritative, obstructive symptom score(25%, 19.1%, 29.2%) and QOL index(0.7 points). Seventy two patients(42.4%) had a > or =25% decrease in total symptom score, 71 patients (41.8%) in irritative and 90 patients(52.9%) in obstructive symptom score after 12 weeks(P or =30% increase and 67 patients(39.4%) had > or =3 ml/s increase in Qmax. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed beneficial short term results for the efficacy of selective alpha(1a) and alpha(1d) blocker (tamsulosin) in treating patients with LUTS, especially irritative symptom.