Age-related androgen deficiency often coexists with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which requires surgical treatment. At the same time, severe lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH are considered a relative contraindication to testosterone replacement therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of correcting age-related androgen deficiency in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia after transurethral operations.
The study comprised 60 patients with androgen deficiency (plasma testosterone levels below12.1 nmol/L) detected during preoperative workup for BPH surgery. All patients were operated on within 30 days after the study enrollment. During that time prior to surgery, all patients received tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily to prevent acute urinary retention. In all cases, bipolar transurethral resection (TUR) of the prostate was performed. The patients were divided into two groups of 30 men. The patients of the study group received 50 mg of testosterone as a 1% topical gel Androgel from the time of diagnosis and for 12 weeks postoperatively. In the control group, the patients were managed without testosterone replacement therapy. The primary endpoint of the study was the libido scores measured by the AMS and IIEF-5 scales. Secondary endpoints were total testosterone level by the end of treatment, the incidence of hemorrhagic and infectious complications after surgery, I-PSS and QoL scores, prostate volume and urinary flow rate.
In the study group, AMS score, IIEF-5 score and testosterone level were 48, 15 and 4.2 nmol/L preoperatively, and 21, 22 and 18 nmol/L after treatment completion, respectively. In the control group post-treatment values did not differ from baseline. The incidence of bleeding complications was 3% in the study group and 10% in the control group; the incidence of postoperative prostatitis was 6 and 13%, respectively. There were no differences in the prostate volume and urinary flow rate. I-PSS scores and quality of life indices were not statistically significantly better in the study group. No adverse events associated with the use of Androgel were observed.
Detection of age-related androgen deficiency should be included in the preoperative evaluation of patients with BPH. Correcting androgen deficiency results in greater effectiveness and safety of the surgery and leads to a more favorable postoperative course. Testosterone replacement therapy after transurethral resection of the prostate enables achieving sexual and social rehabilitation of patients.
Urologiia (Moscow, Russia : 1999). 2016 Dec [Epub]
A G Martov, D V Ergakov
D.D. Pletnev City Clinical Hospital, Moscow HC Department.