Issue: March 2011
March 01, 2011
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Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer linked to bone decay

Hamilton EJ. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;doi:10.1210/jc.2010-0902.

Issue: March 2011
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Men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer who were treated with androgen deprivation therapy experienced structural decay of bone microarchitecture, likely due to testosterone deficiency, according to researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

The 12-month, prospective, observational study included 26 men who were to be treated with androgen deprivation therapy in the form of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. The researchers analyzed changes in bone microarchitecture using high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT. The 26 men were compared with an age-matched group of 26 men. At baseline, 6 months and 12 months, volumetric bone mineral density and microarchitecture were measured using CT.

After 12 months, the total volumetric BMD decreased by 5.2% at the distal radius and by 4.2% in the distal tibia. This decline was attributed to a decline in cortical volumetric BMD of 3.4% at the distal radius and 3.9% at the distal tibia. Total trabecular volumetric BMD did not change at either site. At the distal radius, inner trabecular density decreased by 2%. At the distal tibia, the inner trabecular density decreased by 1.6%.

The cortical area decreased at both sites: 11.5% at the distal radius and 12.5% in the distal tibia. The trabecular area increased by 1.7% at the distal radius and by 1.4% at the distal tibia.

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