The role of finasteride on perioperative bleeding in patients undergoing TURP: A randomized controlled study

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the commonest urological condition affecting men over 50 years of age. Medical therapy is usually the first line management of BPH. Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI), which blocks the conversion of testosterone into the more potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Materials and methods: We prospectively enrolled 54 BPH patients with prostate size ranging from 30-60 gm based on ultrasound, who were undergoing elective TURP at Gandhi Hospital for a period of 2 years from January 2013 to Jan 2015. BPH patients with hematuria, bothersome symptoms and refractory retention were included in the study. Results: Totally 54 BPH patients were enrolled in our study, 30 were randomized to finasteride group and 24 to controlled group. There was significantly less (p value <0.01) mean blood loss in irrigation fluid in the finasteride group compared to the control group (54.27 gm in finasteride group Vs 82.45gms in the control group; p value < 0,01) for each transurethral resection of prostate. Conclusion: Finasteride give daily for 2 weeks before transurethral prostate resection decreased bleeding preoperatively, thereby decreasing the requirement of blood transfusions, post operative episodes of hematuria and clot retention.