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. 2010 Mar;51(3):193-7.
doi: 10.4111/kju.2010.51.3.193. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

Tamsulosin versus Alfuzosin in the Treatment of Patients with Distal Ureteral Stones: Prospective, Randomized, Comparative Study

Abul-Fotouh Abdel-Maguid Ahmed  1 , Abul-Yazid Saad Al-Sayed
Affiliations

Tamsulosin versus Alfuzosin in the Treatment of Patients with Distal Ureteral Stones: Prospective, Randomized, Comparative Study

Abul-Fotouh Abdel-Maguid Ahmed et al. Korean J Urol. 2010 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated and compared the efficacy of tamsulosin and alfuzosin in the medical treatment of symptomatic, uncomplicated distal ureteral stones.

Materials and methods: A total of 87 patients with distal ureteral stones of </=10 mm were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I patients (n=29) received 0.4 mg tamsulosin daily, group II patients (n=30) received 10 mg alfuzosin daily, and group III patients (n=28) were not given tamsulosin or alfuzosin. Patients in all groups received Diclofenac sodium regularly for 1 week and then on demand. Follow-up was done on a weekly basis for 30 days.

Results: The mean stone size was comparable in the 3 groups (4.97+/-2.24, 5.47+/-2.13, and 5.39+/-1.81 mm, respectively). The stone expulsion rate was 86.2%, 76.6%, and 50% in groups I, II, and III, respectively. The difference in groups I and II with respect to group III was significant (p=0.0028 and 0.035). The mean expulsion time for groups I to III was 7.52+/-7.06, 8.26+/-7.34, and 13.90+/-6.99 days, respectively. The expulsion time was significantly shorter in groups I and II than in group III (p=0.0097 and 0.026). Patients taking tamsulosin and alfuzosin had fewer pain attacks than did group III patients (1.24+/-0.57 vs. 1.43+/-0.67 vs. 1.75+/-1.17). Only 3 cases of drug side effects, 2 in group I and 1 in group II, were recorded.

Conclusions: The use of tamsulosin or alfuzosin for the medical treatment of lower ureteric stones proved to be safe and effective. Moreover, tamsulosin did not have any significant benefits over alfuzosin.

Keywords: Alfuzosin; Tamsulosin; Ureter; Urinary calculi.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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