Dutasteride improves bone mineral density in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and prostatic enlargement: a preliminary study

Abstract

Introduction: We studied the effect of dutasteride on bone mineral density (BMD) in aging male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and prostatic enlargement.

Methods: We prospectively studied 17 patients with LUTS and prostatic enlargement. Before and 1 year after dutasteride (0.5 mg daily), we assessed International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostatic volume (PV), serum prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone. BMD in the lumbar and femur was measured by DEXA method.

Results: Dutasteride significantly reduced PV (from 51 ± 24 to 34 ± 17 ml, p < 0.001) and improved IPSS (from 15.1 ± 9.8 to 11.7 ± 10.3, p < 0.05). Serum PSA was significantly decreased (from 3.2 ± 2.6 to 1.0 ± 0.8 ng/ml, p < 0.001), while serum testosterone “was not changed” significantly. BMD of the lumbar “was not changed” significantly after dutasteride. BMD of the femur was significantly improved (from 0.75 ± 0.14 to 0.82 ± 0.16 g/cm², p < 0.01). In nine patients whose testosterone was increased after dutasteride, BMD of the lumbar (from 1.18 ± 0.26 to 1.22 ± 0.25 g/cm², p < 0.05) and femur (from 0.76 ± 0.12 to 0.84 ± 0.16 g/cm², p < 0.05) was significantly improved.

Conclusions: Dutasteride has a potential to improve BMD with elevation of serum testosterone in aging male patients with LUTS and prostatic enlargement.

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• bone mineral density
• dutasteride

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.