[Antiandrogen therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia--review of the agents evaluation of the clinical results].

Various non-surgical therapeutic modalities such as balloon dilation of the prostatic urethra, hyperthermia of the prostate and medication with antiandrogens and/or adrenergic blockade have been attempted for the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) especially in an early stage or in a poor operative risk. The observation that androgen deprivation induces shrinkage of the hyperplastic prostate represents the basis for the treatment of BPH with antiandrogen. Although several antiandrogens are now in clinical use in our country, there still remain problems to be solved. We reviewed the mechanism of action and the clinical results of antiandrogens in the treatment of BPH. The improvement following antiandrogen therapy occurred among the patients with symptomatic BPH, in 50-80% subjectively and in 40-50% objectively. The therapy appeared to be more effective in an early stage of the disease. However, the limitation of the duration of the effects and unfavorable side effects should also be noticed. The progestational agents such as gestonorone caproate, chlormadinone acetate and allylestrenol suppress more or less sexual function by interference of the pituitary-gonadal axis. Besides, coincidental prostate cancer must be excluded since antiandrogen therapy might hinder the natural course of the cancer.