title: Could Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Hypogonadal Men Ameliorate Anemia, a Cardiovascular Risk Factor? An Observational, 54-Week Cumulative Registry Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study we investigated if testosterone undecanoate attenuates anemia and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with hypogonadism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A registry study consisted of 58 participants with a subnormal total testosterone level (less than 2.35 ng/ml) and at least mild symptoms of testosterone deficiency. All patients received an injection of 1,000 mg testosterone undecanoate at the initial visit, followed by injection at 6, 18, 30, 42 and 54 weeks. Serum hormones, hemoglobin, hematocrit, anemia risk factors, lipid profiles, whole blood viscosity and anthropometry were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total testosterone (from mean ± SD 1.87 ± 1.09 to 5.52 ± 1.92 ng/ml, p <0.001) and free testosterone (from 3.04 ± 2.03 to 7.23 ± 2.90 pg/ml, p <0.001) were restored by testosterone undecanoate therapy. Hemoglobin and hematocrit significantly increased after testosterone undecanoate therapy by an average of 2.46 gm/dl (p <0.001) and 3.03% (p <0.001), respectively. The prevalence of anemia (from 29.6% to 10.0%) significantly decreased (p <0.001) and patients with anemia showed a significant increase in erythropoietin after testosterone undecanoate therapy (p = 0.047). A reduction in total cholesterol (from 165.89 ± 39.16 to 153.80 ± 154.27 mg/dl, p = 0.002), increased whole blood viscosity and increased hematocrit were observed until 54 weeks compared with baseline. However, whole blood viscosity and hematocrit stabilized after 18 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After 54 weeks testosterone undecanoate decreased the prevalence of anemia and components of the metabolic syndrome. A longer duration of testosterone undecanoate therapy of more than 18 weeks may be effective and safe in reducing blood viscosity and improving anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute and Medical Device Clinical Trial Center of Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Li Tao
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute and Medical Device Clinical Trial Center of Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute and Medical Device Clinical Trial Center of Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Chonbuk National University and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute and Medical Device Clinical Trial Center of Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: rain@chonbuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; C010792:testosterone undecanoate
keywords: anemia; blood viscosity; cardiovascular diseases; hypogonadism; testosterone