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LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-.
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet].
Show detailsOVERVIEW
Drugs used for the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) include the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists (alpha blockers) and the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The alpha-1 adrenergic blockers act by relaxation of the smooth muscle in the bladder neck and prostate, which results in improvement in urine flow in men with partial obstruction due to an enlarged prostate. The 5-alpha reductase inhibitors act by inhibition of the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is an important prostatic growth factor. Decrease in dihydrotesterone levels lead to a gradual shrinkage of the prostate, which can improve urine flow in men. Thus, the two classes of agents have different mechanisms of action and targets and have little cross reactivity in side effects.
In general, these agents are very rare causes of liver injury.
References to safety and hepatotoxicity are given in the two Overview sections and the specific agents are discussed individually:
- Review Alpha Reductase Inhibitors.[LiverTox: Clinical and Researc...]Review Alpha Reductase Inhibitors.. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. 2012
- Review Medical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha-adrenergic antagonists.[Mayo Clin Proc. 1993]Review Medical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha-adrenergic antagonists.Monda JM, Oesterling JE. Mayo Clin Proc. 1993 Jul; 68(7):670-9.
- The prostaglandin pathway is activated in patients who fail medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms.[Prostate. 2021]The prostaglandin pathway is activated in patients who fail medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia with lower urinary tract symptoms.Jin R, Strand DW, Forbes CM, Case T, Cates JMM, Liu Q, Ramirez-Solano M, Milne GL, Sanchez S, Wang ZY, et al. Prostate. 2021 Sep; 81(13):944-955. Epub 2021 Jul 20.
- [Benign hypertrophy of the prostate: which treatment, for whom?].[Rev Med Brux. 1999][Benign hypertrophy of the prostate: which treatment, for whom?].Schulman C. Rev Med Brux. 1999 Sep; 20(4):A212-8.
- Review [Drugs for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy].[Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2000]Review [Drugs for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy].Caprino L. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2000 Jun; 52(2):87-92.
- Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Agents - LiverToxBenign Prostatic Hypertrophy Agents - LiverTox
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