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Prostatic α 1 ‐adrenoceptors and uroselectivity
Author(s) -
Andersson K.E.,
Lepor H.,
Wyllie M.G.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19970215)30:3<202::aid-pros9>3.0.co;2-n
Subject(s) - terazosin , alfuzosin , doxazosin , tamsulosin , context (archaeology) , prazosin , phenoxybenzamine , medicine , lower urinary tract symptoms , alpha (finance) , antagonist , urology , prostate , hyperplasia , surgery , receptor , biology , paleontology , construct validity , cancer , blood pressure , patient satisfaction
BACKGROUND α 1 ‐adrenoceptor antagonists (blockers) are now commonly used in the treatment of the symptoms of lower urinary tract obstruction. Originally phenoxybenzamine, a non‐selective antagonist at both α 1 ‐ and α 2 ‐adrenoceptors, was used by Marco Caine. In an attempt to minimize side effects, selective α 1 ‐antagonists, e.g. prazosin, were subsequently developed. More recently, agents such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin, and tamsulosin have been introduced and claims of “uroselectivity” and “prostate” selectivity have emerged. METHODS This review attempts to put these claims into perspective and represents a comprehensive analysis of all pre‐clinical and clinical data including several papers from the Japanese literature. An attempt is made to define what is meant by selectivity at various levels including the test tube, in the laboratory animal and, most importantly, in the clinical context of the whole patient. CONCLUSIONS The conclusions are interpreted within the context of the subdivision of the α 1 ‐adrenoceptor into α 1A , α 1B and α 1D subtypes. Prostate 30:202–215, 1997 . © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.