Evaluation of short term clinical effects and presumptive mechanism of botulinum toxin type A as a treatment modality of benign prostatic hyperplasia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect and investigate the putative mechanism of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) applied to the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 52 patients with symptomatic BPH were evaluated. Transperineal intraprostatic injection under transrectal ultrasonography was carried out. BTA dissolved in 4 to 9 mL of saline was used from 100 U to 300 U, according to prostate volume. Twenty-six patients received only BTA (BT group), and 26 received both BTA and one month of an alpha-adrenergic antagonist (BTalpha group). The therapeutic outcomes were evaluated by comparing parameters such as international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life, prostate specific antigen, prostate volume, post-void residual urine, and peak urinary flow rate. At the one month follow- up, 18 patients in the BT group and 21 in the BTalpha group had subjective symptomatic relief (p = 0.337). Only IPSS5 (weak stream) was significantly different between the BT group and BTalpha groups (p = 0.034). At the three month follow-up, 39 patients had subjective symptomatic relief. The storage symptoms were improved more than the voiding symptoms. Additionally, about 50 percent of the patients whose voiding symptom improved expressed improved erectile function. BTA injection seems to be an alternative treatment for BPH. The differences after the one month evaluation between the BT and the BTalpha groups might suggest that the adrenergic influence could be relatively reinforced by the anticholinergic effect of BTA. Nitric oxide would thus be involved in a BTA action mechanism in BPH.