State of lipid metabolism in patients receiving androgen replacement therapy

Abstract

Objective. To assess the state of lipid metabolism indicators and predict cardiovascular risk in patients with secondary (acquired) hypogonadism on the background of androgen replacement therapy. Testosterone replacement therapy is often used in modern medicine for diagnosed androgen deficiency in patients of any age group. There are quite a lot of publications devoted to diagnosis and treatment, but the effectiveness and safety of any therapy is determined by several factors, of which two were considered in the presented study dose-dependent effect and compliance.
 Material and methods. Sixty two patients aged 30 to 52 years with androgen deficiency and a low risk of developing cardiovascular diseases were examined according to the Princeton Consensus criteria. Patients were divided into groups depending on the severity of androgen deficiency and the duration of therapy. Complaints, objective status, muscle strength, daily blood pressure and heart rate monitoring data, lipidogram and sex hormone indicators were evaluated.
 Results. The obtained data suggest that androgen replacement therapy in doses that lead to an increase in the level of testosterone in the blood above the upper limit of reference values had a negative impact on the lipid spectrum and increased cardiovascular risk for this group of patients.
 Conclusions. The analyzed approach to therapy of androgen deficiency should provide an individual adjustment of dosage on the background of determining the target blood testosterone level.