Anaemia in men receiving combined finasteride and flutamide therapy for advanced prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of combined finasteride and flutamide therapy on haemoglobin and haematocrit values in men with advanced prostate cancer.


METHODS
Nineteen men, previously untreated by hormone therapy, with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate and clinical evidence of advanced disease, were treated with combined finasteride (5 mg/day) and flutamide (750 mg/day) for at least 6 months. Complete blood counts were performed before initiation and after 6 months of therapy.


RESULTS
After 6 months of finasteride and flutamide therapy both haemoglobin levels and haematocrit decreased in all men, with a mean (sd, range) decrease of 16 (10, 3-42) g/L and 4.6 (2.7, 0.8-9.9)%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined finasteride and flutamide therapy significantly lowers haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in men with advanced prostate cancer, and further study of this effect is warranted.
Ornstein
D K
DK
Division of Urologic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Beiser
J A
JA
Andriole
G L
GL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005485:Flutamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006454:Hemoglobins; D013739:Testosterone; D018120:Finasteride; D005485:Flutamide