In a nutshell
This study looked at the effect of injecting botulinum toxin type A (BTA) into patients to treat enlarged prostate who did not respond to medical therapy such as drug treatment. The study found that BTA injection was safe and effective at reducing several urinary symptoms in patients with enlarged prostates.
Some background
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in ageing men that is associated with urinary problems. It is commonly treated with drugs called alpha blockers and inhibitors, that help to reduce the size of the prostate. However, drug therapy is not always effective.
BTA is a toxin that can be used to relax and kill some of the extra prostate tissue. It is necessary to study if BTA is a safe and effective treatment for BPH.
Methods & findings
20 men were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group (10 patients) received BTA injection and the second group (10 patients) received saline solution which has no effect (control).
All patients in the BTA group had improvements after 1 month. These improvements included bladder emptying, urine flow, and general quality of life. 90% of patients in the BTA group were satisfied with the improvements. No side effects were seen in either group.
The bottom line
This study concluded that BTA injection was safe and effective in reducing bladder symptoms in patients with BPH unaffected by drug treatment.
The fine print
The study only had a small number of patients and follow-up was short.
What’s next?
Talk to your doctor about BTA injections if drug treatment has not worked for you.
Published By :
Neurourology and urodynamics
Date :
Aug 25, 2017
