ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin and hematocrit values in patients with prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, tid). Complete blood counts were determined before and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels declined significantly in all patients and at all the time points after treatment (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prostate cancer patients treated with combined androgen block would develop obvious anemia. Recombinant human erythropoietin can be used to treat patients with severe anemia.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Adenocarcinoma , Drug Therapy , Therapeutics , Androgen Antagonists , Therapeutic Uses , Anemia , Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal , Therapeutic Uses , Combined Modality Therapy , Flutamide , Therapeutic Uses , Hematocrit , Hemoglobins , Metabolism , Orchiectomy , Prostatic Neoplasms , Drug Therapy , Therapeutics , Prostatic Secretory ProteinsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit value (Ht) in patients with prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, Tid). Complete blood counts were detected before initiation and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hb level declined significantly in all patients from a mean baseline of (136 +/- 14) g/L to (126 +/- 16) g/L, (121 +/- 14) g/L, (120 +/- 15) g/L, (113 +/- 12) g/L, (121 +/- 13) g/L and (123 +/- 15) g/L at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Ht decreased from a mean baseline of 0.424 +/- 0.041 to 0.390 +/- 0.038, 0.381 +/- 0.042, 0.378 +/- 0.038, 0.366 +/- 0.041, 0.384 +/- 0.039 and 0.387 +/- 0.040. The differences between Hb, Ht before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with prostate cancer being treated with combined androgen block would develop a significant degree of anemia. Hemoglobin and hematocrit level should be monitored periodically. This kind of anemia can be treated by recombinant human erythropoietin.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Androgen Antagonists , Anemia , Hematocrit , Hemoglobins , Prostatic Neoplasms , Blood , Drug TherapyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the effect of acute urinary retention on the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples from 34 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with acute urinary retention were drawn immediately before suprapubic cystomy and 48 hours after relief of urinary retention. Serum PSA concentrations were measured with radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean serum PSA levels of BPH patients with acute urinary retention was (24.6 +/- 16.1) micrograms/L (range from 2.6 micrograms/L to 45.8 micrograms/L). Forty-eight hours after relief of urinary retention, the mean serum PSA levels declined to (9.4 +/- 6.3) micrograms/L (range from 1.7 micrograms/L to 16.6 micrograms/L). The difference was significant (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Acute urinary retention could dramatically increase the serum PSA value of patients with BPH. After relief of the urinary retention, the patients had a great than 50% decreased of PSA values.</p>