Efficacy and tolerability of the dual 5α-reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in African-American men

The efficacy and tolerability of dutasteride (0.5mg daily for 2 years) in African-Americans (n=161), compared with Caucasians (n=3961), was assessed in a post hoc analysis of data from three Phase III clinical trials. Dutasteride significantly reduced serum dihydrotestosterone levels by >90% and significantly improved subjective (symptom score) and objective (prostate volume, peak urinary flow rate, risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia-related surgery and acute urinary retention) outcomes in both African-Americans and Caucasians. For all efficacy measures, there was no statistically significant treatment-by-race interaction and dutasteride was well tolerated in both racial groups. Therefore, dutasteride demonstrated similar efficacy and safety profiles in African-Americans and Caucasians.