Terazosin in the treatment of hypertension and symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: a primary care trial.

BACKGROUND

Terazosin, an alpha 1 blocker initially used as an antihypertensive, was approved in 1993 for use in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms. This study was designed to determine the safety and efficacy of terazosin in treating patients with concomitant BPH and hypertension.

METHODS

Middle-aged men with essential hypertension were enrolled by their primary care physicians in community practice. Those with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia were identified by a Boyarsky scale score. The study was a 12-week, dose-escalation, open-label protocol for men aged 45 years and older.

RESULTS

Enrollment in the study totaled 5365 patients. Of these, 1483 had Boyarsky scores of > or = 7, indicating symptomatic BPH. All patients with elevated blood pressure at the beginning of the study, including those with symptomatic BPH, showed significant reduction in blood pressure at the end of the 12-week trial. The patients with symptomatic BPH had statistically significant improvement in their BPH voiding symptoms. In the 1483 patients with BPH symptoms, terazosin produced a mean reduction of 55% in overall Boyarsky scores, 57% in obstructive symptom scores, and 54% in irritative symptom scores. In patients with baseline blood pressure < or = 150/90 mm Hg, blood pressure reductions were statistically significant but clinically irrelevant. Adverse events were mild.

CONCLUSIONS

Terazosin is safe and effective in treating concomitant hypertension and BPH.