To assess the effectiveness and long-term results after finasteride treatment of recurrent hematuria associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

The study comprised 80 patients, aged 62-86 (mean 74) years, of whom 50 received finasteride 5 mg once daily for 4 years and 30 were used as controls. Patients with malignancy, severe hepatic or renal failure and hematologic disorders were excluded. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the severity of hematuria (minor, moderate, severe). All patients were followed up at 3, 12, 24 and 48 months.

The follow-up ranged from 8 to 48 (mean 22) months in the finasteride group and 3-42 (mean 23) months in the control group. Hematuria recurrence rates were 6/50 (12%) and 23/30 (77%) in the finasteride and control groups, respectively. Surgical treatment was needed in 6 patients of the finasteride group and 19 of the control group. Patients with minor hematuria experienced no recurrence of symptoms in the finasteride group in contrast to 13 of 17 patients in the control group. For the patients with moderate hematuria, recurrence of symptoms was observed in 3 of 13 in the finasteride group and 3 of 5 in the control group. Three of six patients with severe hematuria had a recurrence of symptoms after finasteride treatment in contrast to 7 of 8 in the control group.

Finasteride has proved to be a safe, well tolerable and effective medication in reducing or preventing recurrent hematuria related to BPH.