Volume 11, Supplement 1Reviews in UrologyPathophysiology of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Insights From Medical Therapy for the DiseaseAdvances in the Pharmacologic Treatment of BPHHerbert LeporThe medical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has its roots in the early 1970s. During this era, the first clinical trials investigating α-blockade and androgen deprivation therapy were reported for men with clinical BPH. The observation that clinical BPH was improved following administration of both α-blockers and androgen deprivation therapy supported the evolving paradigm that clinical BPH resulted from dynamic and static pathways. During the past several decades, the evolution of α-blockers for the treatment of BPH has been impacted by innovations targeted to simplify the administration and improve tolerability while maintaining their effectiveness.[Rev Urol. 2009;11(suppl 1):S9–S13 doi: 10.3909/riu11S1S0002]© 2009 MedReviews®, LLCBladder outletobstructionSelectivityAdrenergic Receptors