Alfuzosin 10 mg once daily improves sexual function in men with lower urinary tract symptoms and concomitant sexual dysfunction

• Published in: BJU international Vol. 95; no. 4; pp. 603 - 608
• Main Authors: Van Moorselaar, R. Jeroen A., Hartung, Rudolf, Emberton, Mark, Harving, Niels, Matzkin, Haim, Elhilali, Mostafa, Alcaraz, Antonio, Vallancien, Guy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-03-2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists - administration & dosage; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists - adverse effects; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; bladder outlet obstruction; ejaculation; Ejaculation - drug effects; extended‐release alfuzosin; Humans; impotence; Male; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Pain - etiology; Penile Erection - drug effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quality of Life; Quinazolines - administration & dosage; Quinazolines - adverse effects; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - drug therapy; signs and symptoms; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction - complications; Urinary system; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urination Disorders - etiology; α1‐blockers; Nephrology; Alfuzosin; Impotence; Quinazoline derivatives; Sexual dysfunction; signs and symptoms; α1-Adrenergic receptor; Male; Administration schedule; Posology; Urology; Voiding dysfunction; Alpha blocking agent; Ejaculation disorders; Adult; Bladder neck obstruction; Antagonist; Male genital diseases; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Human; ejaculation; Urinary system disease; Erection disorders; extended- release alfuzosin; bladder outlet obstruction; Urinary tract disease; Chemotherapy; Treatment; α1-blockers
• ISSN: 1464-4096; 1464-410X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2005.05347.x

Associate Editor
Michael G. Wyllie
Editorial Board
Ian Eardley, UK
Jean Fourcroy, USA
Sidney Glina, Brazil
Julia Heiman, USA
Chris McMahon, Australia
Bob Millar, UK
Alvaro Morales, Canada
Michael Perelman, USA
Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect on sexual function of alfuzosin 10 mg once daily, a uroselective α1‐blocker, in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In all, 3076 men (mean age 65.9 years) were treated for 1 year with alfuzosin 10 mg in ‘real life’ practice. They were asked to complete the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), its appended eighth question (bother score) and the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score questionnaire for sexual dysfunction (DAN‐PSSsex). The results were analysed at the endpoint in the intent‐to‐treat population.
RESULTS
At baseline, 2434 (79.1%) men were sexually active and answered correctly at least one item of the DAN‐PSSsex. Sexual dysfunction was highly prevalent (reduced stiffness of erection, 65.3%; reduced volume of ejaculate, 63.2%; pain/discomfort on ejaculation, 20.2%), and was strongly related to the severity of LUTS and impairment of quality of life. At the endpoint, alfuzosin significantly improved the total IPSS (−6.1, − 32%) and bother score (−1.4, − 33.2%, both P < 0.001) over baseline. In those men with sexual dysfunction there were significant improvements in weighted scores related to reduced rigidity of erection (−0.5), reduced amount of ejaculate (−0.4) and pain/discomfort on ejaculation (−1.2, all P < 0.001) over baseline. The perceived improvements were more marked in men with severe LUTS or a severe bother score at baseline.
CONCLUSIONS
Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in men with LUTS and related to the baseline IPSS and bother score. Alfuzosin 10 mg once daily for 1 year is effective in improving LUTS and quality of life, and is well tolerated. It may even improve sexual function in those men with concomitant erectile and/or ejaculatory dysfunction.