Effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia and finasteride therapy on prostatic blood flow in dogs

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 114; pp. 103 - 108
• Main Authors: Angrimani, D.S.R., Silvestrini, G.R., Brito, M.M., Abreu, R.A., Almeida, L.L., Vannucchi, C.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-07-2018
• Subjects: 5 alpha-reductase; Animals; Canine; Case-Control Studies; Color Doppler; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dogs; Finasteride - therapeutic use; Male; Prostate - blood supply; Prostate - drug effects; Prostatic Hyperplasia - drug therapy; Prostatic Hyperplasia - veterinary; Senescence; Urological Agents - therapeutic use; Senescence; Color Doppler; 5 alpha-reductase; Canine
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.03.031

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by an enlargement of the prostate accompanied by an increase in prostatic blood perfusion and vascularization. The most indicated treatment is to perform orchiectomy, however, medical treatment with finasteride can be an option for breeding dogs or elderly animals with a critical health status. In dogs, the influence of medical treatment on prostatic hemodynamics is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia and finasteride therapy on hemodynamic and vascular features of the canine prostate. For this purpose, twenty dogs of different breeds, body weights (10–30 kg) and ages (5–13 years) were used, assigned for: Healthy-non treated group (n = 5), BPH-non treated group (n = 5), Healthy-finasteride treated group (n = 5) and BPH-finasteride treated group (n = 5). Dogs that presented hematospermia and at least one general clinical sign (tenesmus, hematuria or dysuria) were presumptively diagnosed with BPH. Dogs were evaluated ultrasonographycally by B-mode and Doppler of the prostatic artery in a monthly interval (day 0, 30 and 60) in order to measure prostate volume (PV), expected prostate volume (EPV), prostate vascularization score (scored as minimum, intermediary and maximum) and prostatic artery blood flow parameters with the use of spectral and color Doppler ultrasound. It was possible to observe a decrease in prostate vascularization score between Day 0 (intermediary degree) and 60 (minimum degree) in finasteride treated dogs. Moreover, non-treated dogs had higher score of vascularization at Day 60 compared to animals treated with finasteride, regardless of BPH diagnosis. Healthy-non treated animals presented higher peak systolic:diastolic velocity (S/D) than BPH-non treated dogs. Furthermore, BPH-non treated dogs had lower S/D than BPH-finasteride treated dogs. In 30 and 60 days, no difference on PV was observed between BPH-finasteride treated group and Healthy-non treated group. At day 60, no difference between PV and EPV was observed for the BPH-finasteride treated group. In conclusion, finasteride treatment reduces simultaneously the volume, local vascularization and blood flow of the prostate, thus, being considered an effective and additional choice of therapy for BPH. Moreover, the course of therapy in dogs can be followed by analyzing changes in prostatic artery.
•Dogs with BPH had both high prostatic volume and vascularization score.•There is a positive effect of finasteride in reducing prostatic vascularization.•There is a higher prostatic artery end diastolic velocity (EDV) and lower peak systolic:diastolic velocity (S/D) in BPH dogs.•EDV and S/D can be used to follow up the course of therapy.•Finasteride treatment reduces simultaneously the volume, local vascularization and blood flow of the prostate.