The efficacy of potassium p-aminobenzoate to assist with visual internal urethrotomy for urethral stricture

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of potassium p-aminobenzoate medication along with visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) for decreasing the incidence of recurrent urethral stricture. We reviewed the data of fifty-two patients with urethral stricture, who had undergone VIU at Pusan National University Hospital in South Korea from June 2011 to May 2013. To assess whether the outcome was influenced by the potassium p-aminobenzoate medication after surgery, the patients were divided into two groups. The patients of the first group (eighteen patients) were prescribed potassium p-aminobenzoate (4 x 500 mg/day) for 12 months and the second group (thirty-four patients) without potassium p-aminobenzoate (control group). All patients were retrospectively analyzed 12 months postoperatively by history, uroflowmetry, and if required, retrograde urethrography, cystourethroscopy or urethral dilation. The mean age of patients was 58.3 years (range 24-82 years). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the patients or the etiology of the stricture between the two groups (p > 0.05). The recurrence rate after medication of potassium p-aminobenzoate was 22.2 and 44.1 % in case without medication. Any severe adverse events and gastro-intestinal trouble by medication of potassium p-aminobenzoate were not occurred. The results indicated a significant effect of potassium p-aminobenzoate in reducing recurrent urethral stricture, which it may be a useful agent to stabilize the disorder and prevent progression of urethral stricture.