Use of α-blockers for medical expulsive therapy (MET) has been the subject of huge debate in Urology. Moreover, there have been a number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with differing results. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs investigating the efficacy α-blockers for MET. This review confirms there is a role for α-blockers in medical expulsive therapy for ureteric stones specifically in stones >5mm and distal ureteric stones, which is associated with improved stone expulsion. However, there is a slight increase in risk of non-significant side effects.
Urology. 2018 Apr 04 [Epub ahead of print]
Omar M Aboumarzouk, Patrick Jones, Tarik Amer, Dimitris Kotsiris, Esteban Emiliani, Bhaskar Somani, Panagiotis Kallidonis, Thomas Tailly, Gohkan Atis, Francesco Greco, Stephan Hruby, Mario Alvarez, Khalid Al-Rumaihi, Ahmed Shamsuddin, Abdulla Al-Ansari, Ahmed Shokeir
Glasgow Urological Research Unit, Department of Urology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK; University of Glasgow, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, Glasgow, UK; Islamic Universities of Gaza, College of Medicine, Gaza, Palestine; Young Academic Urologists Urolithiasis and Endourology Group of the European Association of Urology., Young Academic Urologists Urolithiasis and Endourology Group of the European Association of Urology. Electronic address: ., Glasgow Urological Research Unit, Department of Urology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK., Young Academic Urologists Urolithiasis and Endourology Group of the European Association of Urology., Urology Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar., Urology department, urology and nephrology centre, Mansoura university, Egypt.