[Anemia in patients on combined androgen block therapy for prostate cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit value (Ht) in patients with prostate cancer.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, Tid). Complete blood counts were detected before initiation and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.


RESULTS
Hb level declined significantly in all patients from a mean baseline of (136 +/- 14) g/L to (126 +/- 16) g/L, (121 +/- 14) g/L, (120 +/- 15) g/L, (113 +/- 12) g/L, (121 +/- 13) g/L and (123 +/- 15) g/L at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Ht decreased from a mean baseline of 0.424 +/- 0.041 to 0.390 +/- 0.038, 0.381 +/- 0.042, 0.378 +/- 0.038, 0.366 +/- 0.041, 0.384 +/- 0.039 and 0.387 +/- 0.040. The differences between Hb, Ht before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with prostate cancer being treated with combined androgen block would develop a significant degree of anemia. Hemoglobin and hematocrit level should be monitored periodically. This kind of anemia can be treated by recombinant human erythropoietin.
Department of Urology, First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Li-xin
LX
Hua
Hong-fei
HF
Wu
Yuan-geng
YG
Sui
Shuang-guan
SG
Cheng
Zheng-quan
ZQ
Xu
Wei
W
Zhang
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D006454:Hemoglobins