Oral testosterone replacement in Korean patients with PADAM

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Introduction: After middle age, some men show androgen-deficiency symptoms leading to so-called PADAM (partial androgen deficiency in aging males). We tested the oral form of testosterone, testosteroneundecanoate (Andriol®, NV Organon, The Netherlands), in men with PADAM and evaluated its efficacy and safety in Korean male patients.Methods: We included those patients with theclinical symptoms of PADAM who had decreased levels of serum total testosterone (< 2.8 ng/ml) or free testosterone (< 13 pg/ml). We excluded patients with biopsy-confirmed prostrate cancer, abnormalfindings in digital rectal examination or prostate specific antigen testing (until prostrate cancer was ruled out), breast cancer, severe voiding symptoms and secondary hypogonadism. At the first visit,the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Korean Andropause Questionnaires were administered; complete blood count, the lipid profile, and levelsof total and free testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prostate specific antigen were measured and a digital rectal examination was given. Patients were administeredoral testosterone undecanoate 160 mg daily for 3 weeks. The dosage was then decreased to 80 mg daily and changes in symptoms were assessed at every visit. After 3 months, serum tests, including testosterone,were repeated.Results: We evaluated 28 patients who had received testosterone undecanoate for more than 3 months. The patients' mean age was 56.1 (48-68) years. The score of the Korean AndropauseQuestionnaire changed from 56.2 ± 21.7 at baseline to 52.9 ± 21.3 (p = 0.03) after 3 weeks, to 49.3 ± 19.3 (p = 0.03) after 8 weeks, and to 46.5 ± 25.6 (p =0.028) after 12 weeks. With respect to sexual function, mean IIEF scores were 37.2 ± 19.6 at baseline and 38.7 ± 19.2 and 40.2 ± 22.0 (p = 0.033) after 3 and 12 weeks, respectively.Serum total testosterone increased from 2.13 ± 1.20 ng/ml at baseline to 6.04 ± 3.08 ng/ml (p = 0.005) after 12 weeks, and free testosterone was marginally significantly changed from8.60 ± 2.25 pg/ml to 11.40 ± 3.81 pg/ml (p = 0.13). However, there were no significant changes in liver function tests, red blood cell count or lipid profiles. There were no significantadverse reactions that led to the cessation of the administration of oral testosterone.Conclusion: Oral administration of testosterone undecanoate can improve symptoms of PADAM in Koreans. Itmay, therefore, be an appropriate treatment option with few adverse effects for PADAM patients.