title: Comprehensive evaluation of androgen replacement therapy in aging Japanese men with late-onset hypogonadism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the efficacy and safety of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in aging Japanese men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 50 (median age: 57.7 years) Japanese men with LOH, who were consecutively enrolled and treated with TRT for at least six months at our institution. We evaluated the following measurements before and after six months of treatment with TRT as follows: blood tests, prostate volume, residual urine volume, self-ratings for International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Aging Male Symptom (AMS) and the Medical Outcomes Study 8-item Short-Form health survey (SF-8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following six months of TRT, the levels of testosterone, red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly increased from baseline, while total cholesterol level was significantly decreased from baseline. Furthermore, TRT led to a significant increase in IIEF-5 score and a significant decrease in IPSS score. Of 30 men who were diagnosed with depression at baseline, only 11 men (36.7%) were still suffering from depression after TRT, and SDS scores were significantly decreased from baseline at month six. Treatment with TRT led to a significant decrease in all scores of the AMS scale as well as a significant improvement in all scores of the SF-8 survey, with the exception of the bodily pain score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that TRT is an effective and safe treatment for aging Japanese men with LOH. TRT improved depressive symptoms as well as health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery Related, Faculty of Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe , Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D044466:Asian People; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Aging men; LOH; androgen therapy; testosterone