Investigating the effect of tamsulosin on the measurement of bladder wall thickness and International Prostate Symptom Score in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Introduction: According to previous studies, aging, gender, bladder volume and pathological states, such as bladder outflow obstruction, affect bladder wall thickness (BWT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between BWT and the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) before and after tamsulosin treatment. Methods: In this study, 60 BPH patients were included. After obtaining informed consent, data were gathered using questionnaires to determine IPSS. After that, prostate-specific antigen was measured and a clinical examination, including a digital rectal examination, was performed for all patients. BWT was determined by transabdominal ultrasound. Finally, all patients were treated with tamsulosin (0.4 mg/day) for 2 months. After completing treatment, the IPSS and BWT were measured again and compared with the initial findings. Results: In total, 44 patients completed treatment. Patients aged 61.7 ± 9.2 years old. The mean ± standard deviation of IPSS and BWT were 14.6 ± 5.0 and 5.36 ± 1.28 mm before treatment, while they significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased to 8.2 ± 4.7 and 4.69 ± 1.23 mm, respectively, after treatment. Chi-square test showed that the decrease in BWT was significantly correlated with the improvement in IPSS (p = 0.002; r = 0.449). Conclusion: After treatment with tamsulosin, patients experienced a reduction in their BWT which was significantly correlated with improvement in their IPSS. We conclude that transabdominal evaluation of BWT could be included in the follow-up assessment in BPH.

The relationship between bladder wall thickness and lower urinary tract symptoms: Does bladder wall thickness change after alpha-blocker therapy with alfuzosin?

“…18 In another study, improvements in voiding symptoms and decreases in BWT after tamsulosin treatment indicated that ultrasound measurements of BWT, with flow rate studies and IPSS, could be considered an outcome assessment tool in the pharmacologic treatment of BPH. 2 In the present study, we found a significant difference between BWT measured before and 6 months after alpha-blocker treatment with alfuzosin. There was a significant difference between pre-and post-treatment values with alfuzosin in terms of mean Qmax, Qave, IPSS, QoL score, and PVR.…”

“…Alpha-blocker treatment improves Qmax, Qave, IPSS, QoL score, and structural changes in bladder wall caused by lower urinary tract obstruction in patients with LUTS. 2,18 Ultrasound studies showed that alpha-blocker treatment decreases PVR and increases of Qmax, which correlated with decreases in bladder wall hypertrophy. 10 Alpha-blocker treatment with tamsulosin in men with prostatic hyperplasia decreased the ultrasound-estimated bladder weight (from 65 to 28 g).…”

“…Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is seen in 52% of asymptomatic patients and in 60% of symptomatic patients. [1][2][3] Studies have demonstrated that BOO is associated with changes in detrusor structure caused by smooth muscle hypertrophy, fibroelastic hyperplasia, and collagen deposition in the bladder wall. 4 Bladder compliance decreases in humans and animals due to lower urinary tract obstruction, which is caused by increased collagen deposition in the bladder wall.…”