Pulmonary embolus related to PC-SPES use in a patient with PSA recurrence after radical prostatectomy.
Patients diagnosed with a rising prostate-specific antigen level after radical prostatectomy represent a therapeutic dilemma. Herbal therapies including PC-SPES have gained popularity as alternatives to conventional hormonal ablation in such patients as a result of the perceived benefits of using natural products and proven clinical response in decreasing prostate-specific antigen levels. PC-SPES is one of the most popular herbs with known estrogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. Estrogenic compounds increase the risk of thromboembolic events. However, no specific guidelines are available with regard to the risk of thromboembolic events for patients using PC-SPES. We report a case of a patient treated with PC-SPES for prostate-specific antigen recurrence after radical prostatectomy who presented with pulmonary embolus and a right common femoral deep venous thrombus.
Schiff
Jonathan D
JD
James Buchanan Brady Department of Urology, New-York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Ziecheck
Wendy S
WS
Choi
Benjamin
B
D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen