Cross-sectional analysis of testosterone therapies in hypopituitary men on stable pituitary hormone replacement.
OBJECTIVE
The last decade has seen a proliferation in options for testosterone replacement. However, little is known as to the benefits of different treatment modalities. Our objective was to determine the testosterone prescription pattern and to examine the impact on various outcome measures.


METHODS
A total of 816 adult-onset hypopituitary males on stable pituitary replacement for at least 1 year were identified from the KIMS database. Patients were classified as either eugonadal (n = 106), or hypogonadal (n = 710) on intramuscular (IM, n = 558), oral (n = 74), transdermal (n = 61), and depot (n = 17) testosterone.


RESULTS
After 1 year of stable pituitary replacement therapy, body composition, cardiovascular parameters, GH replacement and quality of life were not significantly different in androgen-replaced hypogonadal patients compared to eugonadal patients. There were no differences in outcome variables within the hypogonadal group according to the testosterone replacement regimen used and no difference in response to GH therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of hypopituitary patients in the last decade have received IM testosterone. Body composition, cardiovascular parameters, GH replacement and quality of life were not different between eugonadal and hypogonadal patients and were not differentially affected by the mode of testosterone replacement. These findings are reassuring that there is no major difference in response to different testosterone replacement regimens.
Siyambalapitiya
S
S
Section of Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Jonsson
P
P
Koltowska-Haggstrom
M
M
Gaillard
R
R
Ho
K
K
Ross
R J M
RJ
D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D013739:Testosterone