Uso de antimuscarínicos en pacientes con STUI-HBP y síntomas de VHA: maestría clínica y resistencia a perder el miedo al riesgo de retención urinaria Translated title: Use of antimuscarinics in patients with LUTS-BPH and OAB symptoms: clinical expertise and resistence to lose the fear to urinary retention risk

To evaluate the efficacy of tolterodine extended-release (ER) plus tamsulosin on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as assessed by changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in men who met symptom entry criteria for both overactive bladder (OAB) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) trials. Men aged > or =40 years with an IPSS of > or =12 and diary-documented OAB symptoms (> or =8 voids/24 h and > or =3 urgency episodes/24 h, with or without urgency urinary incontinence) who reported at least moderate problems related to their bladder condition were randomized to receive placebo, tolterodine ER (4 mg), tamsulosin (0.4 mg), or tolterodine ER (4 mg) + tamsulosin (0.4 mg) once daily for 12 weeks. Patients completed the IPSS at baseline and at 1, 6 and 12 weeks. Patients receiving tolterodine ER + tamsulosin had significantly greater improvements than those taking placebo on IPSS storage subscale scores and scores for all three individual storage items included on the IPSS (urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturnal micturitions) by 12 weeks. Storage subscale and urgency scores were significantly improved vs placebo at 1 and 6 weeks, whereas frequency scores were significantly improved at 6 weeks. Changes in IPSS storage subscale and individual storage item scores in the tolterodine ER and tamsulosin monotherapy groups were not significantly different from placebo at most time points. IPSS voiding subscale scores and scores for three of four individual voiding items (sensation of incomplete emptying, intermittency, and weak stream) were significantly improved by 12 weeks for patients receiving tamsulosin monotherapy vs placebo. Voiding subscale and intermittency scores were significantly improved vs placebo at 1 week; weak stream scores were significantly improved at 1 and 6 weeks. The IPSS voiding subscale and individual voiding item scores in the tolterodine ER + tamsulosin and tolterodine ER groups were not significantly different from placebo at most time points. In this distinct clinical research population of men who met traditional symptom entry criteria for both OAB and BPH trials, tolterodine ER + tamsulosin was significantly more effective than placebo in treating storage LUTS, including OAB symptoms. Tamsulosin monotherapy produced significant improvements in voiding LUTS.

A substantial proportion of men with lower urinary tract symptoms have a combination of both 'storage' and 'voiding' symptoms, suggesting possible coexisting bladder outlet obstruction and bladder overactivity. Bladder overactivity is traditionally treated with anticholinergic drugs. However, guidelines from the European Association of Urologists make no mention of the possible therapeutic role of anticholinergic drugs for treating storage symptoms in such patients. It is a common perception that using an anticholinergic drug in men with bladder outlet obstruction runs the risk of inducing acute urinary retention, because of the inhibitory effect of anticholinergics on bladder contraction in the presence of outlet obstruction. This review focuses on recent data determining the efficacy of anticholinergic medication in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and the associated risk of acute urinary retention. One recent study in men with urodynamically confirmed obstruction supports the assertion that anticholinergic drugs are safe in men with bladder outlet obstruction. Safety data from larger studies using anticholinergics in patients with overactive bladders supports these findings. Efficacy and safety studies of anticholinergic medication in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia are few and far between, but preliminary data suggests they are not associated with a substantial risk of urinary retention nor with a substantial increase in residual urine volume.