Effects of tamoxifen on lipid profile and coagulation parameters in male patients with pubertal gynecomastia.
OBJECTIVE
The estrogenic actions of tamoxifen on lipid profiles and hemostasis have been extensively demonstrated in women. Due to limited experience with this drug in males, it is uncertain whether these effects are also present in men. The aim of our study was to assess the response of blood lipids, lipoproteins, and coagulation parameters in a group of men taking tamoxifen.


METHODS
We studied 15 healthy boys with pubertal gynecomastia who were given 10 mg tamoxifen per day. Total testosterone, sex-hormone-binding globulin, estradiol, serum lipids, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, antithrombin III, von Willebrand factor, and markers of activated coagulation and fibrinolysis were determined at baseline and 1 and 3 months after beginning of the tamoxifen treatment.


RESULTS
Total cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) showed moderate but significant decreases from baseline. Low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations as well as triglyceride and apolipoprotein B levels became lower, but these changes were not statistically significant. Among clotting parameters, antithrombin III was reduced, and von Willebrand factor increased significantly. Markers of activated coagulation and fibrinolysis remained unchanged throughout the period of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of tamoxifen on blood lipids and hemostasis we found in this group of healthy young men were qualitatively similar, but lesser than those previously described in women.
Nóvoa
F J
FJ
Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Insular, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. jnovoa@cicei.ulpgc.es
Boronat
M
M
Carrillo
A
A
Tapia
M
M
Díaz-Cremades
J
J
Chirino
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006177:Gynecomastia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D013629:Tamoxifen; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D000990:Antithrombin III; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002784:Cholesterol