A study to assess the influence of carvedilol, an α- and β-blocker, on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urine flow in hypertensive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was conducted in Poland, and the results published in Urology.

Fifty men were included in a double blind crossover study with placebo. After initial screening, participants were randomized to the carvedilol or the enalapril group, with cross over after 3 months. Doses of both drugs were up-titrated or additional therapy was introduced to ensure normal control of blood pressure (BP).

Urologic assessment included uroflowmetry (average [Qavg] and maximum urinary flow rate [Qmax]), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

After carvedilol or enalapril administration, BP values were significantly reduced, whereas heart rate decreased only in the carvedilol group. Basal urologic values for carvedilol and enalapril were similar: After treatment with carvedilol, PVR and IPSS significantly decreased, whereas Qavg and Qmax increased. In the enalapril group, all of these values remained unchanged.

Carvedilol, compared with enalapril, has a positive influence on LUTS related to BPH in patients with hypertension. Therapy with carvedilol may be considered in hypertensive patients with BPH. Further studies on the urologic benefit from long-term use of the drug are warranted.

[Urology. 2013 Sep;82(3):660-5. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2013.03.087.]