ANAHEIM, Calif., May 25 -- Injection of botulinum toxin A directly into the prostate provided relief from symptoms of refractory benign prostatic hypertrophy for up to a year, according to a small study.
Three-fourths of patients had at least 30% improvement in urinary symptoms and quality of life, found Yao-Chi Chuang, M.D., of Chang Gung University in Taiwan.
In some cases the improvement persisted for as long as a year, he said at the American Urological Association meeting here. No patient reported any major side effects.
"The results are encouraging because they indicate that Botox could represent a simple, safe, and effective treatment for enlarged prostate that has long-term benefits," commented University of Pittsburgh urologist Michael Chancellor, M.D., an investigator in the study.
