title: The effect of testosterone on cardiometabolic risk factors in atorvastatin-treated men with late-onset hypogonadism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  By reducing LDL cholesterol levels, statins may decrease androgen production. This study was aimed at investigating whether testosterone treatment has an impact on cardiometabolic risk factors in statin-treated men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 31 men with LOH who had been treated for at least 6 months with atorvastatin (20-40mg daily). On the basis of patient preference, atorvastatin-treated patients were divided into two matched groups of patients: receiving intramuscular testosterone enanthate (100mg weekly, n=16) and not treated with this hormone (n=15). Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, as well as plasma levels of androgens, uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), homocysteine, and fibrinogen were assessed before and after 4 months of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control age-, weight, and lipid-matched statin-naïve subjects with LOH (n=12), atorvastatin-treated patients were characterized by decreased levels of testosterone, hsCRP, and homocysteine. In patients not receiving testosterone therapy, plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, as well as plasma levels of the investigated risk factors remained at the similar levels throughout the whole period of atorvastatin treatment. In atorvastatin-naïve patients, testosterone increased its plasma levels and decreased HDL cholesterol. Apart from an increase in testosterone levels, if administered to atorvastatin-treated subjects with LOH, testosterone reduced plasma levels of LDL cholesterol, uric acid, hsCRP, homocysteine, and fibrinogen, as well as improved insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study may suggest the clinical benefits associated with combination therapy with a statin and testosterone in elderly men with LOH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: r.krysiak@interia.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krysiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland; Cardiology Department, Chrzanow District Hospital, Chrzanów, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gilowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okopień
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D014527:Uric Acid; D013739:Testosterone; C004648:testosterone enanthate; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Hypercholesterolemia; Hypogonadism; Statins; Testosterone replacement