Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy - Barreiro Method

PICHON RIVIERE, A.; AUGUSTOVSKI, F.; GARCIA MARTI, S.; GLUJOVSKY, D.; ALCARAZ, A.; LOPEZ, A.; BARDACH, A.; CIAPPONI, A; CESARONI, S

Documento de Evaluación de Tecnologías Sanitarias

IECS

Año: 2012 p. 1 - 30

1668-2793

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) is a common pathology in the elderly with 40% prevalence in 50-year-old males and over 90% in males over 90. The diagnosis is clinical. Patients present irritating and obstructive symptoms of varying intensity along time. BPH treatment is symptomatic. The decision to treat a patient will depend on symptom severity and patient tolerance to them. In patients with mild to moderate symptoms, watchful waiting and behavioural treatment are recommended. In patients with moderate to severe symptoms, the options are watchful waiting, behavioural treatment, medical or surgical treatment. TECHNOLOGY The Barreiro Method for BPH treatment consists of a combination of treatments mainly including diet and hygiene measures, immunomodulators, antibiotics, and phytotherapy. PURPOSE To assess the available evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of the Barreiro Method for non-surgical benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS A search was carried out on the main bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane, DARE, NHS), in general Internet search engines, in sanitary technology evaluation agencies. Information on the use of health resources, costs and coverage in Argentina was sought in local sources. In addition, the Fundación Barreiro was contacted to provide scientific publications on the method which could not be identified by the previous search strategy. RESULTS With the previously described search strategy no scientific publications were found on the effectiveness and safety of the Barreiro Method. CONCLUSION The adverse effects and potential effectiveness that the specific way of combining the different treatments in the Barreiro Method might have can not be determined since there is not scientific evidence. Currently, there are no publications to support the use of this method.