Trt: Helpful or Harmful?
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:48 am
From: http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp? ... 8&nav=3w6r 16.01.07
By Lucy Williams, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Is a boost of testosterone helpful or harmful? Testosterone may not be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction, and it could put patients at risk for heart complications, according to recent research from the Mayo Clinic.
In two related studies, Mayo Clinic researchers in Rochester, Minn., found the benefits of testosterone therapy are unclear, and the treatment could even be harmful to the heart.
"There is a lot of uncertainty as to whether the average patient will actually benefit in terms of sexual function and satisfaction from using testosterone," Mayo Clinic researcher Victor Montori, M.D., told Ivanhoe. "[Patients] will have to consider the pros and cons of testosterone therapy. The cons, namely, 'could testosterone therapy make you more likely to get strokes and heart attacks?' have not been worked out at all."
Researchers reviewed randomized trials to assess the effects of testosterone on sexual and cardiovascular function. Testosterone use was associated with small improvements in erectile function and moderate improvements in libido, but results were inconsistent across trials. The accumulated data indicated slightly more cardiovascular complications in people taking testosterone compared to those not taking testosterone, but further research is needed to determine the safety of long-term use.
"What we need are large studies that follow these patients for long enough periods of time so we can get good estimates to determine whether these medications are indeed safe," Dr. Montori said.
Evidence indicates testosterone treatment can lead to cardiovascular problems. "When used in a careless fashion, some patients may develop very thick blood. Sleep apnea could get worse. These two things are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease," he said.
He noted, however, this evidence does not necessarily put patients at risk for heart disease: "At the same time, there is good biology that could support testosterone being beneficial for cardiovascular disease. We have so little evidence out there that we don't know which way is which."
"At the end of the day, the goal of health care is to make patients live longer and feel better, and with that goal in mind, there is little evidence to support the use of testosterone to achieve those goals," he said.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Victor Montori, M.D., Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2007;82:20-28:29-39
By Lucy Williams, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Is a boost of testosterone helpful or harmful? Testosterone may not be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction, and it could put patients at risk for heart complications, according to recent research from the Mayo Clinic.
In two related studies, Mayo Clinic researchers in Rochester, Minn., found the benefits of testosterone therapy are unclear, and the treatment could even be harmful to the heart.
"There is a lot of uncertainty as to whether the average patient will actually benefit in terms of sexual function and satisfaction from using testosterone," Mayo Clinic researcher Victor Montori, M.D., told Ivanhoe. "[Patients] will have to consider the pros and cons of testosterone therapy. The cons, namely, 'could testosterone therapy make you more likely to get strokes and heart attacks?' have not been worked out at all."
Researchers reviewed randomized trials to assess the effects of testosterone on sexual and cardiovascular function. Testosterone use was associated with small improvements in erectile function and moderate improvements in libido, but results were inconsistent across trials. The accumulated data indicated slightly more cardiovascular complications in people taking testosterone compared to those not taking testosterone, but further research is needed to determine the safety of long-term use.
"What we need are large studies that follow these patients for long enough periods of time so we can get good estimates to determine whether these medications are indeed safe," Dr. Montori said.
Evidence indicates testosterone treatment can lead to cardiovascular problems. "When used in a careless fashion, some patients may develop very thick blood. Sleep apnea could get worse. These two things are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease," he said.
He noted, however, this evidence does not necessarily put patients at risk for heart disease: "At the same time, there is good biology that could support testosterone being beneficial for cardiovascular disease. We have so little evidence out there that we don't know which way is which."
"At the end of the day, the goal of health care is to make patients live longer and feel better, and with that goal in mind, there is little evidence to support the use of testosterone to achieve those goals," he said.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Victor Montori, M.D., Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2007;82:20-28:29-39