SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ON RISK PREDICTORS FOR ARTERIOSCLEROSIS AMONG MEN WITH LATE-ONSET HYPOGONADISM: A CASE–CONTROL STUDY

Background and objective 

This study assessed the short-term effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on some risk predic-tors for arteriosclerosis among men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).

Materials and methods 

A total of 25 patients with LOH who received TRT for 6 months and 21 patients without TRT were enrolled in the present study. Information regarding the following parameters were collected: Aging Males’ Symptoms scale, Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), International Prostatic Symptom Score, waist circumfer-ence, and some laboratory data, including fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), low-density lipo-protein cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) values, and arteriosclerosis index (AI), at baseline and after 6 months. Patients in the TRT group had received intramuscular injections of testosterone enanthate (250 mg) every month for 6 months while those in the control group received no testosterone treatment during this trial.

Results 

No significant differences were observed in any baseline patient characteristics between both groups. After 6 months, the TRT group exhibited significant improvements in SHIM scores (from 10.1 to 13.1; p = 0.00563), hs-CRP values (from 0.157 to 0.103 mg/dL; p = 0.00753), and the AI (from 2.10 to 1.95 mg/dL; p = 0.0429), with a significant decrease in AMS scale (from 44.3 to 41.8; p = 0.0388). The control group dis-played no significant changes in all parameters. No patient in the TRT group had additional interventions or medications worsening their urinary symptoms.

Conclusions 

TRT for 6 months among men with LOH contributed to significant improvements in three predictive fac-tors for arteriosclerosis. Further studies including long-term TRT are expected to demonstrate the preven-tive effects of testosterone for arteriosclerosis among Japanese men with LOH syndrome.

arteriosclerosis; C-reactive protein; erectile dysfunction; late-onset hypogonadism; testoster-one replacement therapy

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