title: [Effect and safety of testosterone undecanoate in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism: a meta-analysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) by meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched Pubmed (until April 1, 2014), Embase (until March 28, 2014), Cochrane Library (until April 17, 2014), CBM (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), CNKI (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), Wanfang Database (from January 1, 2000 to February 2, 2014), and VIP Database (from January 1, 2000 to Febru ary 2, 2014) for randomized controlled trials of TU for the treatment of LOH. We evaluated the quality of the identified literature and performed meta-analysis on the included studies using the Rveman5. 2 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally, 14 studies were included after screening, which involved 1 686 cases. Compared with the placebo and blank control groups, TU treatment significantly increased the levels of serum total testosterone (SMD = 6.22, 95% CI 3.99 to 8.45, P < 0.05) and serum free testosterone (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.86 to 6. 85, P < 0.05) but decreased the contents of luteinizing hormone (WMD = -2.23, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.42, P < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin (WMD = 2.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.63, P < 0.05). TU also remarkably reduced the scores of Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Males (WMD = -9.49, 95% CI -12.96 to -6.03, P < 0.05) and Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (WMD = -2.76, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.66, P <0.05) but increased the hemoglobin level (SMD = 2.35, 95% CI 0.29 to 4.41, P < 0.05) and packed-cell volume (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.33, P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were shown in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, prostate-specific antigen, or prostate volume after TU treatment (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TU could significantly increase the serum testosterone level and improve the clinical symptoms of LOH patients without inducing serious adverse reactions. However, due to the limited number and relatively low quality of the included studies, the above conclusion could be cautiously applied to clinical practice.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xu-bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yuan-zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xue-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Yong-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006441:Hemoglobin A; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; C010792:testosterone undecanoate