Monitoring
Monitor clinical symptoms in patients with BPH who are on watchful waiting or are treated with medical or surgical therapies by intermittently assessing the International Prostate Symptom Score. This is an accurate and reliable way to monitor improvement or progression of symptoms in patients with BPH.
In general, patients treated with alpha blockade may be reassessed within 1 or 2 weeks; while those on 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors will begin to see improvement in 4 to 6 months. Postoperative patients are usually fully recovered at 6 weeks following intervention and can be evaluated for efficacy of treatment at that time.
Recommendations for prostate cancer screening vary. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that, for men ages 55-69 years, periodic PSA-based screening for prostate cancer should be an individual decision and should include discussion of the potential benefits and harms of screening with their clinician.[26] Other laboratory investigations, including a urinalysis or determination of renal function, would be indicated if clinical symptoms warrant or if additional comorbidity or comedications exist.
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