[Prolonged hypogonadism after cessation of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the levels of LH, testosterone and PSA after suspending prolonged treatment with LH-RH analogs.


METHODS
Hormonal evolution was studied in 29 patients from whom treatment had been withdrawn. The patients had previously been receiving treatment with LH-RH analog for more than one year, and with LH< 2 mUI/mL and testosterone < 2.8 ng/mL. LH, testosterone and PSA were determined monthly, together with clinical assessment. The treatment was re-initiated and the period of monitoring ended before the presence of clinical progression and/or PSA > or = 10 ng/mL. The cohort was described and survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.


RESULTS
The mean period of time without treatment for the series was 35 months (CI 95%, 15.7-54.2 months). Prolonged hypogonadism (> 24 months) was presented by 17% of the patients. The recovery of the LH-T-PSA axis, when it occurred, followed the expected sequence. The variables that influenced the period of recovery of the PSA were the PSA pretreatment and the association of an antiandrogen.


CONCLUSIONS
After withdrawing the prolonged treatment with LH-RH analogs, most of the patients recovered the levels of LH-T-PSA, although a subgroup remained hypogonadic for more than 24 months.
Rodríguez-Rubio Cortadellas
Federico I
FI
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Puerto Real, Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Cádiz, España. frubio@pulso.com
Jímenez Romero
Miguel E
ME
González Moreno
Delfín
D
Novalbos Ruiz
José P
JP
Garrido Insúa
Sofía
S
D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000209:etiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen