title: Testosterone therapy and cardiovascular risk.
abstract: Endogenous testosterone levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular risk in older men and men with cardiovascular disease. Current data on cardiovascular outcomes of testosterone therapy include only observational studies and adverse event monitoring in short-term trials that were not designed to measure cardiovascular outcomes. These studies have yielded conflicting results, and some have raised concerns that testosterone therapy may increase cardiovascular risk. A well-designed, adequately powered, prospective trial will ultimately be required to clarify whether testosterone therapy impacts cardiovascular outcomes. This review describes the findings and limitations of recent studies of cardiovascular risk in older men on testosterone therapy and discusses some of the mechanisms through which testosterone may modify cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; Endocrinology Section, Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN. Electronic address: jpwalsh@iu.edu.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kitchens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone