Dutasteride ['Avolve'], a 5-α reductase inhibitor, is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to studies presented at the 17th Congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU) [Birmingham, UK; February 2002]. Combined 2-year results from three phase III studies demonstrated that, in addition to relieving symptoms such as acute urinary retention (AUR), dutasteride monotherapy was effective in slowing the progression of BPH. Furthermore, results from the Symptom Management After Reducing Therapy (SMART) study showed that initial combination therapy with dutasteride and the α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist, tamsulosin ['Flomax'], followed by dutasteride monotherapy not only provided rapid relief of BPH symptoms but also treated the underlying condition itself.