Risks of blood volume changes in hypogonadal men treated with testosterone enanthate for erectile impotence.
Administration of anabolic steroids carries many risks. We present a series of 15 patients with primary hypogonadism who as a group had statistically significant increases in whole body hematocrit and red blood cell volume while on testosterone therapy of 300 mg. intramuscularly every 3 weeks. A small decrease in plasma volume over-all was not significant. Subsequent analyses compared subgroups whose whole body hematocrit during testosterone therapy was either 48% or greater (9) or less than 48% (6). Interaction effects indicated that the subgroups were similar when off testosterone but when on testosterone the former group exhibited an increase in red blood cell volume and a decrease in plasma volume, while the latter group had little change in either measurement. Subsequent to stopping testosterone therapy 2 patients in the whole body hematocrit 48% or greater group suffered strokes and 1 had transient ischemic attacks while on therapy. No one in the whole body hematocrit less than 48% group has had any cerebrovascular symptoms. Clinical implications, as well as cost-effective and practical suggestions for detecting possible dangerous hemoconcentration are discussed.
Krauss
D J
DJ
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Syracuse, New York.
Taub
H A
HA
Lantinga
L J
LJ
Dunsky
M H
MH
Kelly
C M
CM
D000368:Aged; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010953:Plasma Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013739:Testosterone; C004648:testosterone enanthate