Role of finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hematuria secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of finasteride for the treatment of gross hematuria secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia in a prospective fashion. Twelve patients with recurrent episodes of gross hematuria secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with finasteride 5 mg/day. Before initiating treatment, we excluded other sources of hematuria using intravenous urography, cystoscopy, and urine culture. Bleeding subsided within 2 weeks of treatment in all 12 patients. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Finasteride was well tolerated by all 12 patients. Finasteride appears to be effective in treating recurrent gross hematuria secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. This therapy should be considered an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate or hormonal ablation in patients with recurrent hematuria and no significant obstructive uropathy or adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Prostate 31:180–182, 1997.