ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Men with prostate cancer older than 60 years who are treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) represent a specific subpopulation of patients being at high risk of bone loss and subsequent complications. In contrast to this fact, there is not much data (if any) about this specific subpopulation of men and their BMD prior to the start of ADT. The aim of this study is to evaluate BMD in such patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Femoral neck and lumbar spine (L1-L4) were determined by dual-x-ray absorbtiometry (DXA) in 80 men (mean age 75.3 yrs, mean PSA 27.5 ng/ml) at the beginning of ADT. RESULTS: 38 out of 80 patients (47.5%) had femoral and/or L1-L4 osteopenia, and 6 patients (7.5%) were diagnosed with femoral and/or L1-L4 osteoporosis before the start of ADT. Less than a half (45%) of examined patients had normal values of femoral and L1-L4 BMD. CONCLUSION: Osteopenia is very common in men with prostate cancer who receive ADT. It is advisable to examine BMD prior to the start of ADT, and periodically thereafter. BMD measurement prior to ADT via DXA should be a common practice that can help in early detection of osteoporosis (Tab. 3, Ref. 36).
