Publication:

Alfuzosin versus tamsulosin for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective comparative study

Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men. Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists are recommended as first-line pharmacological therapy. This study compared the efficacy and safety of alfuzosin and tamsulosin in men with symptomatic BPH.

Methods In this prospective, open-label, comparative study, 60 men with symptomatic BPH were allocated to receive either alfuzosin 10 mg once daily (n=30) or tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily (n=30) for 12 weeks. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual urine volume (PVRU) were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study.

Results Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Both treatments produced significant improvement in IPSS, Qmax, and PVRU from baseline to 12 weeks (all p<0.001). At 12 weeks, mean IPSS was lower in the alfuzosin group than in the tamsulosin group (6.30±2.02 vs. 7.37±2.17; p=0.050). Mean Qmax increased from 6.03±1.81 to 23.33±3.79 ml/s with alfuzosin and from 6.30±1.73 to 21.60±4.10 ml/s with tamsulosin (p=0.090). Mean PVRU decreased from 85.30±28.51 to 11.40±6.08 ml and from 73.90±45.51 to 14.83±11.93 ml, respectively (p=0.160). Both medications were well tolerated, and no serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusions Both alfuzosin and tamsulosin significantly improved LUTS, urinary flow rate, and bladder emptying in men with symptomatic BPH. Their efficacy and safety profiles were broadly comparable.