The drug preferred to stop the growth of prostate in a 70 year old male with Benign hyperplasia of prostate is
## **Core Concept**
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men, characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland. The goal of treatment in this context is to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. Medical management often focuses on reducing the size of the prostate or relaxing the smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck.
## **Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer, **Finasteride**, is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. This class of drugs works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent form of testosterone that promotes prostate cell growth. By reducing DHT levels, finasteride decreases the size of the prostate over time, thereby alleviating symptoms of BPH. This mechanism is particularly beneficial for patients with moderate to severe symptoms and those with a significantly enlarged prostate.
## **Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A: Terazosin** is an alpha-1 adrenergic blocker. It works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. However, it does not reduce the size of the prostate.
- **Option B: Dutasteride** is also a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, similar to finasteride, but it has a slightly different pharmacological profile, inhibiting both type 1 and type 2 isoenzymes of 5-alpha-reductase, whereas finasteride primarily inhibits the type 2 isoenzyme. While effective, the question specifies a preferred drug, and both finasteride and dutasteride could be considered, but finasteride is often referenced as a first-line treatment due to its established efficacy and safety profile.
- **Option D: Tamsulosin** is another alpha-1 adrenergic blocker, similar to terazosin, used to treat BPH by relaxing smooth muscles in the prostate and bladder neck. It does not reduce prostate size.
## **Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors like finasteride take several months to show their full effect on reducing prostate size and alleviating symptoms of BPH. They are particularly useful in patients with a large prostate volume (>40 mL) and high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), as they can also help reduce PSA levels.
## **Correct Answer:** . Finasteride