ReviewArab journal of urology2026
Efficacy of alpha-blockers in medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials between 2010 and 2025.
Review in Arab journal of urology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Effect of Adjuvant Silodosin on Stone Clearance After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Renal Stones: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Alpha-blockers are widely used in medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones; however, the current evidence regarding their comparative effectiveness remains inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different alpha-blockers in facilitating ureteral stone passage and identify factors influencing treatment outcomes. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2010 and 2025. We searched multiple databases for studies comparing alpha-blockers with control interventions or other alpha-blockers for ureteral stones ≤10 mm. Primary outcome was stone expulsion rate; secondary outcomes included time to expulsion, pain episodes, analgesic use, and adverse events. We performed subgroup analyses by alpha-blocker type, stone size, location, and treatment duration. Network meta-analysis assessed comparative effectiveness between agents. Results: Twenty-nine RCTs with a total of 4,256 patients were included. Alpha-blockers significantly increased stone expulsion rates compared to controls (70.9% vs. 56.5%; RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.20-1.32; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) = 7) and reduced expulsion time by approximately three-days. Efficacy was greatest for distal ureteral stones (RR 1.52; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) = 4) and stones 5-10 mm (RR 1.35; NNT = 6). Network meta-analysis revealed efficacy ranking favoring at first terazosin, followed by doxazosin then, silodosin then, tamsulosin then, alfuzosin and last the least effective was naftopidil. Alpha-blockers significantly reduced pain episodes and analgesic requirements. Adverse events were infrequent (Number Needed to Harm (NNH) = 38), with retrograde ejaculation being most common with silodosin. Conclusion: Alpha-blockers significantly improve the stone expulsion rates and reduce expulsion time, especially for distal ureteral stones 5-10 mm in size. While tamsulosin remains the most studied agent, our network meta-analysis suggests terazosin and doxazosin may offer superior efficacy. The favorable risk-benefit profile supports routine use of alpha-blockers for appropriately selected patients with ureteral stones.
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