Claims for Patent: 5,942,519

Summary for Patent: 5,942,519

Title:	Prevention of precipitated acute urinary retention
Abstract:	This invention is concerned with the prevention of precipitated acute urinary retention in a subject male susceptible thereto by the administration of an inhibitor of 5.alpha.-reductase to the subject. The present invention also provides for a method of reducing the risk of precipitated acute urinary retention by the administration of a 5.alpha.-reductase inhibitor to the subject at risk therefor.
Inventor(s):	Waldstreicher; Joanne (Scotch Plains, NJ)
Assignee:	Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, NJ)
Application Number:	09/178,138
Patent Claims:	1. A method for reducing the risk of precipitated acute urinary retention in a male subject at risk therefor, comprising administration of an effective amount of an inhibitor of 5.alpha.-reductase to the subject. 2. A method for reducing the risk of precipitated acute urinary retention in a male subject at risk therefor, comprising administration of a compound of structural formula I to the subject: ##STR5## wherein R is selected from: (a) C.sub.1-10 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen substituents, and (b) phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from halogen, methyl, and trifluoromethyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate or crystal form thereof. 3. The method of reducing the risk of precipitated acute urinary retention according to claim 2, wherein R is selected from: (a) unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkyl, and (b) phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with one or two trifluoromethyl substituents. 4. The method of reducing the risk of precipitated acute urinary retention according to claim 2, wherein R is t-butyl. 5. The method of reducing the risk of precipitated acute urinary retention according to claim 2, wherein R is 2,5-bis(trifluoromethyl )phenyl. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the precipitated acute urinary retention is precipitated by anesthesia or surgery; a precipitating medical event; a precipitating medical condition such as prostatitis or urinary tract infection; or ingestion of medication known to precipitate retention. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the precipitating medical event is selected from stroke and congestive heart failure; the precipitating medical condition is selected from prostatitis and urinary tract infection; and the medication known to precipitate retention is selected from pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, cold medicine, narcotics, sedatives, and benadryl. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the precipitated acute urinary retention is precipitated by anesthesia or surgery. 9. The method according to claim 1 for reducing the risk precipitated acute urinary retention in a subject at risk therefor, comprising administration of finasteride at a dose of 5 mg per day. 10. A method of preventing precipitated acute urinary retention in a male subject susceptible thereto, comprising administration of an effective amount of an inhibitor of 5.alpha.-reductase to the subject. 11. A method of preventing precipitated acute urinary retention in a male subject susceptible thereto, comprising administration of a compound of structural formula I to the subject: ##STR6## wherein R is selected from: (a) C.sub.1-10 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one to three halogen substituents, and (b) phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from halogen, methyl, and trifluoromethyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate or crystal form thereof. 12. The method of preventing precipitated acute urinary retention according to claim 11, wherein R is selected from: (a) unsubstituted C.sub.1-10 alkyl, and (b) phenyl unsubstituted or substituted with one or two trifluoromethyl substituents. 13. The method of preventing precipitated acute urinary retention according to claim 11, wherein R is t-butyl. 14. The method of preventing precipitated acute urinary retention according to claim 11, wherein R is 2,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl. 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the precipitated acute urinary retention is precipitated by anesthesia or surgery; a precipitating medical event; a precipitating medical condition; or ingestion of medication known to precipitate retention. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the precipitating medical event is selected from stroke and congestive heart failure; the precipitating medical condition is selected from prostatitis and urinary tract infection; and the medication known to precipitate retention is selected from pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, cold medicine, narcotics, sedatives, and benadryl. 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the precipitated acute urinary retention is precipitated by anesthesia. 18. The method according to claim 10 preventing precipitated acute urinary retention in a subject susceptible thereto, comprising administration of finasteride at a dose of 5 mg per day.