For the first time, a strategic plan for research into benign prostate disease, based on the latest scientific knowledge, has been published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

FDA has approved the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride (Avodart) in combination with the alpha-blocker tamsulosin (Flomax) for treatment of symptomatic enlarged prostate. Both drugs had previously been approved individually for treatment of enlarged prostate.

The combination of dutasteride (Avodart) and tamsulosin (Flomax) provides significantly greater improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and patient-reported quality of life than either therapy alone in men with BPH who are at increased risk of progression.

A trial without catheter (TWOC) following an average of 3 days of catheterization has become standard practice in men with acute urinary retention (AUR) associated with BPH. Now, the results of a recent study have shown that the administration of an alpha-blocker prior to a TWOC can significantly increase the chances of the success of TWOC.

The combination of dutasteride (Avodart) and tamsulosin (Flomax) provides significantly greater improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and patient-reported quality of life than either therapy alone in men with BPH who are at increased risk of progression, according to a 2-year analysis of data from the 4-year Combination of Avodart and Tamsulosin (CombAT) trial.

Men facing treatment for BPH can expect similar outcomes after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), according to results of a multicenter head-to-head comparison of the two treatments, presented at the AUA annual meeting.

A trial without catheter (TWOC) following an average of 3 days of catheterization has become standard practice in men with acute urinary retention (AUR) associated with BPH. Now the results of a study presented here have shown that the administration of an alpha-blocker prior to a TWOC can significantly increase the chances of TWOC success.

Biolitec has launched the 150-watt Evolve side-firing diode laser unit, which the company says precisely ablates and coagulates prostate tissue, resulting in shorter procedures and recovery times.

Use of minimally invasive surgical treatments (MISTs) for BPH has increased tremendously in the past decade, but urologists should be careful about overusing these newer technologies, given the lack of long-term evidence of their efficacy, researchers from the University of Minnesota said here.