Authors
Gerasimos Alivizatos, Director of the 3rd Urology Clinic of the “YGHIA” Hospital
Anastasios Athanasopoulos, Associate Professor of Urology, University of Patras, specializing in Neurourology and Urodynamics
Apostolos Apostolidis, Assistant Professor of Urology - Neurourology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dionisis Mitropoulos, Professor of Urology, Kapodistrian University of Athens
Petros Perimenis, Professor of Urology, University of Patras
Konstanstinos Chatzimouratidis, Assistant Professor of Urology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dimitris Chatzichristou, Professor of Urology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Download in pdf-form the book “Guidelines for the treatment of LUTS with simultaneous protection/restoration of sexual function”
Foreword by the Editor of the publication
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/ Hypertrophy (BPH) and Erectile Dysfunction are two of the most common "male problems" that Urologists have to face in everyday medical practice. And they feel that these are issues they are capable of coping with. The reasons why they feel so familiar with both these conditions is not only the related scientific knowledge that has been conquered but also the multiple available therapeutic options, which, tested by time, guarantee high efficacy and excellent safety for the patient.
During the last 10 years, all epidemiological studies converge on a common conclusion that both conditions co-exist in a significant number of men, while basic research has provided sufficient data to develop theories on common pathogenic mechanisms. These theories are tested every day in numerous research publications. Thus, we do hope that we will ultimately be in the position to describe with great accuracy the common mechanism inducing LUTS due to Prostate Hypertrophy and Erectile Dysfunction.
Along with basic research, a plethora of clinical study publications have investigated the effects of treatment options for Prostate Hypertrophy on the male sexual life. Their effect varies, mainly due to the fact that there is currently no study designed specifically to investigate, primarily or exclusively, the impact of any treatment for BPH on sexual function. Within this climate of suspended queries, a number of clinical trials documented the positive effects of PDE-5 inhibitors on the symptomatology of the lower urinary tract in patients with prostatic hypertrophy and led to the formal approval of one of PDE-5 inhibitors, Tadalafil, to be used for the LUTS treatment. Although many Urologists were sceptical in the beginning, publications and clinical practice confirm a further treatment option for men with micturition disorders due to BPH, which can even treat at the same time potential erection problems.
Responding to the above scientific challenges, ISUD has organized for the first time in our country a Consensus Group, in accordance with international practice and methodology, which worked for 2 years with strict scientific criteria and today presents to the Greek Urological Community the “Guidelines for the treatment of LUTS with simultaneous protection/restoration of sexual function”. The participation of such worldwide distinguished Greeks Urologists in the Group Consensus and the creation of this edition constitute indeed a great honour for ISUD.
But the greatest ethical reward for all contributors would be if this book helped Greek Urologists to clarify knowledge, resolve questions and facilitate their everyday medical practice.
Dimitris CHATZICHRISTOU
Professor of Urology