Search

OBJECTIVES. α-blockers are a group of α-adrenoceptor antagonists used by urologists to treat lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Recent studies have suggested that these drugs - tamsulosin in particular - are involved in the development of iris complications during phacoemulsification. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of α-blockers - especially tamsulosin - on pupil diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We measured the photopic, mesopic and post-dilatation pupil diameters in both eyes of 24 patients (46 eyes in total), 16 of them treated with α-blockers and 8 of them (16 eyes in total) not treated with any drugs (controls). RESULTS. All patients treated with tamsulosin showed minor photopic, mesopic and post-dilatation diameters compared to controls. Patients treated with other α-blockers did not show any difference compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS. Even if a small number of eyes was evaluated, our study shows that tamsulosin - through its selective effect on α1A receptors - is the most involved drug in the Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three homogeneous groups of patients suffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) were evaluated by means of a two-year observational study, in order to assess and compare their Quality of Life (QoL) under the following different medical treatments. Group 1: alfuzosin alone, Group 2: alfuzosin and dutasteride, Group 3: dutasteride alone. QoL was evaluated by validated indexes, such as the IPSS and the QoL-Vas. Although different in entity and timing, as expected, all the three groups showed an improvement. The best and quickest results were detected in the drug association of Group 2. Significant decrease in volume was detected in the dutasteride groups (2 and 3) but not in group 1 (alfuzosin alone), where a quick relief of LUTS was detected, due to its well- known alphalytic action. Our results suggest that dutasteride alone does not result in a rapid decrease in LUTS, whereas it can help to manage the reduction of the prostate volume. A combination therapy seems therefore to be recommended to obtain LUTS relief both in the short and long term results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]