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Biomedical subjects

Steven A Kaplan

Publications and source records attributed to Steven A Kaplan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Tolterodine extended release attenuates lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: In this open label, prospective study we determined the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine extended release (ER) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in whom previous alpha-blocker therapy had failed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 43 consecutive men with BPH and LUTS in whom a mean of 5.7 months of alpha-blocker therapy had failed due to adverse events (11) or a lack of efficacy (32) received tolterodine ER (4 mg daily) for 6 months. Primary efficacy end points were American Urological Association symptom score, and mean daytime and nighttime micturition frequency. Secondary end points were the peak urinary flow rate, post-void residual volume, the incidence of urinary retention, total score on the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function and adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 39 men (91%) with a mean age of 61 years completed the 6-month trial. Mean 24-hour micturition frequency decreased from 9.8 to 6.3 voids and nocturia decreased from 4.1 to 2.9 episodes nightly. Significant changes in mean American Urological Association symptom scores (-6.1), the peak urinary flow rate (1.9 ml per second) and post-void residual volume (-22 ml) were also observed. Of the men 27 (63%) were potent at baseline and 29 (67%) were potent after 6 months of tolterodine ER treatment. Mean International Index of Erectile Function erectile function domain scores increased (6.9). Four men (9%) discontinued therapy because of intolerable dry mouth. There were no reports of urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with tolterodine ER in men with BPH and LUTS may be a reasonable therapeutic option as initial therapy or after failed treatment with alpha-blockers.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

alpha-Blocker Therapy: Current Update.

alpha-Blockade is the predominant form of medical therapy for the treatment of symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Recent research has shown that there is a series of alpha(1) receptor subtypes present in humans and that the alpha(1A) subtype appears to play a primary role in mediating prostatic smooth muscle contraction. Recent interest has therefore focussed on the development of agents specific to this alpha(1A) receptor subtype. The approval by the Food and Drug Administration of tamsulosin, an alpha(1A)-specific antagonist, offers physicians in the United States the opportunity to prescribe a selective alpha(1)-blocker for the treatment of BPH. Tamsulosin offers a pharmacologic means to better target alpha-blockade specifically to the prostatic smooth muscle and spare the vascular smooth muscle. Use of this agent has resulted in a lower incidence of clinically relevant effects on blood pressure or heart rate and minimal cardiovascular adverse effects.

Journal Article↗

Factors in Predicting Failure with Medical Therapy for BPH.

Perhaps more than other common disorders, the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been subject to the "reatment du jour" approach. Although pharmacotherapy has largely replaced surgery in the treatment of BPH, recommendations for optimal therapy seem to change every time a new study is published. alpha-Blockers, 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, and combination therapy with the 2 have all proved highly effective, in both trials and clinical practice. Nevertheless, medical therapy does not work for everyone, and identification of baseline factors that can help predict failure with a particular therapy is needed. Currently, the evidence supports the use of single-agent alpha-blocker therapy for patients with low prostate volumes at baseline, and combination therapy for patients with larger prostates. Symptom severity at baseline also seems predictive of success or failure.

Journal Article↗

Interstitial cystitis and panic disorder: a potential genetic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Evidence from a genetic linkage study had suggested a possible syndrome in some families with panic disorder (PD). This syndrome includes bladder problems (possibly urinary interstitial cystitis [IC]), thyroid disorders, chronic headaches/migraine, and/or mitral valve prolapse. In 19 multiplex families with PD, one marker (D13S779) on chromosome 13 gave a logarithm of odds score of more than 4 when individuals with any of the syndrome conditions were analyzed as affected. Families with the bladder problems yielded the highest logarithm of odds scores. These findings were replicated in an extended sample of 60 families. Whereas PD had been well characterized by direct interview, the urologic problems had been found only via medical history checklists and records. A case review by a board-certified urologist suggested they could be IC. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients diagnosed as having IC by urodynamics and/or cystoscopy and their first-degree relatives (FDRs) have increased rates of the syndrome conditions, thus validating that the bladder problems observed in the linkage study could be IC and providing further support for the panic syndrome. DESIGN: Case-control and family history study. SETTING: Two metropolitan urology clinics. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty-six probands (67 with IC and 79 with other urologic disorders) and 815 FDRs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lifetime rates of syndrome conditions in probands and FDRs who were blind to urologic or psychiatric diagnoses in the proband. RESULTS: Compared with patients without IC, patients with IC had a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of PD (controlling for age and sex) (odds ratio, 4.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-13.40; P =.02) and a higher lifetime prevalence of any of the syndrome disorders (controlling for age and sex) (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-5.54; P =.09). First-degree relatives of probands with (vs without) IC were significantly more likely to have PD, thyroid disorder, urologic problems, and any of the syndrome disorders (controlling for age and sex of the relative and sex of the proband) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-3.38; P =.02). These results in relatives were not influenced by PD in probands, and did not change substantially when controlling for the proband-relative relationship, modeling age as a categorical (vs continuous) variable, or excluding FDRs with PD. There were no interactions between proband IC status and sex of the relative. CONCLUSIONS: The increased frequency of seemingly disparate disorders in patients with IC and their FDRs is consistent with the genetic linkage findings in families with PD. These findings suggest that the bladder problems observed in the linkage study may be IC. The hypothesis that there is a familial, possibly pleiotropic, syndrome that may include IC, PD, thyroid disorders, and other disorders of possible autonomic or neuromuscular control deserves further investigation.

Adult↗

Long-term pooled analysis of multicenter studies of cooled thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia results at three months through four years.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term efficacy of cooled thermotherapy in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: A total of 541 men underwent cooled thermotherapy treatment in six multicenter studies in the United States, England, and Canada. Both fixed and random effects models were used to pool the data across the six studies. The treatment response was measured as the difference between the urinary tract symptoms at baseline versus those at 3, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months after therapy. The treatment response included changes in the American Urological Association Symptom Score (AUA symptom score), peak urinary flow rate in milliliters per second (Qmax), and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: The baseline measures were comparable across the studies. At 3 months, the AUA symptom score had improved by a mean of 11.6 (55%), Qmax by a mean of 4.0 (51%), and QOL by a mean of 2.3 (53%). These changes persisted with only slight attenuation through 48 months (corresponding mean changes of 43%, 35%, and 50%). These changes were highly statistically significant (P <0.0001 to 0.01). An improvement of at least 25% was achieved for the AUA symptom score and QOL by more than 85% of men and by more than 65% of men for Qmax. CONCLUSIONS: This pooled analysis of six multicenter studies of cooled thermotherapy, involving 541 men, found highly significant improvements in AUA symptom score, Qmax, and QOL. The results were highly consistent across the studies. The improvements reflected changes from baseline values of 45% to 50% for AUA symptom score and QOL and 35% to 40% for Qmax at a follow-up duration up to 48 months after therapy. The level of improvement for all three measures remained high at 48 months, indicating that the response is durable.

Aged↗

High-power potassium-titanyl-phosphate photoselective laser vaporization of prostate for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with large prostates.

OBJECTIVES: To study the safety and efficacy of high-power potassium-titanyl-phosphate photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate in men with prostate volumes greater than 60 cm3. METHODS: A total of 64 men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and large-volume prostates underwent photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate between May 2002 and September 2003. Medical therapy had failed in all men, and 18 presented with urinary retention. The preoperative evaluation included the maximal flow rate, postvoid residual urine volume, prostate volume, serum sodium, creatinine, and hematocrit, and International Prostate Symptom Score. Transurethral prostatectomy was performed with an 80 W potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) side-firing laser system through a 23F continuous-flow cystoscope with normal saline as the irrigant. The operative time, anesthesia type, length of stay, and postoperative serum sodium, creatinine, and hematocrit were recorded. The International Prostate Symptom Score, maximal flow rate, and postvoid residual urine volume were measured at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: The mean preoperative prostate volume was 101 +/- 40 cm3. The mean operative time was 123 +/- 70 minutes. No transfusions were required. Of the 64 patients, 62 were discharged within 23 hours. The serum sodium level did not change significantly. The International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 18.4 preoperatively to 9.9, 8.6, 7.2, and 6.7 at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, and the maximal flow rate increased from 7.9 mL/s preoperatively to 16.4, 16.2, 20.0, and 18.9 mL/s at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The postvoid residual urine volume also decreased from 189 mL preoperatively to 78, 78, 67, and 109 mL at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate is safe and efficacious, with durable results for men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and large-volume prostates.

Adult↗

Changing aspects in the evaluation and treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Lower urinary tract symptoms are a common clinical symptom among men and a frequent reason for referring to a urologist. The most important information comes from the patient history because evaluation of symptoms is fundamental in the diagnosis and treatment planning for LUTS. Other aspects of the initial evaluation, such as the physical examination and initial laboratory values, can provide valuable additional information about the severity of the disease and the need for treatment. If treatment is warranted based on this information, additional diagnostic tests may be appropriate to set a pretreatment baseline, rule out other conditions, and plan treatment approach. Fortunately, a variety of effective medical and surgical treatments are available to treat this common disease.

Algorithms↗

A prospective, 1-year trial using saw palmetto versus finasteride in the treatment of category III prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of saw palmetto or finasteride in men with category III prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, open label, 1-year study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of saw palmetto and finasteride in the treatment of men diagnosed with CP/CPPS. Patients were randomized to finasteride (5 mg once daily) or saw palmetto (325 mg daily) for 1 year. Patients were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, individual domains (pain, urinary symptoms, quality of life and mean pain score) and the American Urological Association Symptom Score at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 64 consecutive men 24 to 58 years old (mean age 43.2) with a diagnosis of CP/CPPS were equally randomized to the 2 treatment arms. All 64 men had previously received antibiotics (duration of 3 to 93 weeks), 52 (82%) had been on alpha-blockade. There were 61, 57 and 56 patients evaluable at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. At 1 year mean total National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score decreased from 23.9 to 18.1 in the finasteride group (p <0.003), and from 24.7 to 24.6 in the saw palmetto arm (p = 0.41). In the finasteride arm the quality of life and pain domains were significantly improved at 1 year; however, urination was not. Adverse events included headache (3 cases) in the saw palmetto group and decreased libido (2 cases) in the finasteride group. At the end of the trial 13 of 32 (41%) and 21 of 32 (66%) opted to continue saw palmetto and finasteride, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CP/CPPS treated with saw palmetto had no appreciable long-term improvement. In contrast, patients treated with finasteride had significant and durable improvement in all various parameters except voiding. Further studies are warranted to ascertain the mechanism and reproducibility of these effects in a placebo controlled trial.

Adult↗

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy for benign prostate hyperplasia: separating truth from marketing hype.

PURPOSE: Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) is being used with increasing frequency by urologists as a minimally invasive therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are various modifications to this technology, with each manufacturer touting safety and efficacy. We review the rationale of TUMT, as well as the historical safety and efficacy of this approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical literature, including peer reviewed articles and abstracts. In addition, we analyzed promotional material distributed by various manufacturers with respect to scientific accuracy. RESULTS: TUMT results in consistent improvement in symptoms and peak urinary flow rate. Symptom improvement ranges between 9 and 11 points, compared to a 6-point improvement in sham treated patients, and peak urinary flow rate increases 3 to 5 ml per second. The degree of coagulation necrosis is different among the various TUMT devices. Although coagulation necrosis is believed to be an important proxy for clinical success, there are few data that correlate this factor with the magnitude of either symptomatic or uroflow improvement. CONCLUSIONS: TUMT is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH. In addition, there are distinct advantages to each of the devices. However, intense marketing and hyperbole have dominated this segment of the BPH market. Ultimately, the most effective TUMT device can only be determined by direct comparison studies.

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