Candicidin treatment of prostatism: a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study.

The polyene macrolide candicidin was investigated in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Forty-one unselected patients with BPH and prostatism were admitted to a prospective, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients treated with 270 mg candicidin daily for 6 months had a significant decrease in residual urine and a significant increase in maximum flow rate after correction for differences in corresponding bladder volume. Symptoms improved significantly in both the candicidin and the placebo group but no differences in improvement were found between the two groups. The mechanism of the drug's effect is unknown and positive results are much less pronounced than those obtained with surgery. Candicidin appears valuable in the treatment of BPH patients who are a poor surgical risk.