Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Re-analyzing (study starting in 2007) the effect of injectable testosterone undecanoat depot (TUD) in hypogonadic patients.

Materials and Methods: A. Patients: at onset 231 men with hypogonadism (median: 62 y). B. Distribution: by decade (starting with 20y); no =4, 14, 24, 61, 63, 49, 17, 1. C. TUD (Nebido^R-Bayer) 1000 mg injected one/3 months i.m. D. Prostate volume (PV) appreciated by per-abdominal ultrasound: 3.5–5 MHz probe, elliptical/3D (cm³). E. 12 patients were opperated before starting testosteron, 2 patients were opperated during treatment. F. Analysis Time: before starting testosterone (T0), after 1/2 month (T1=231), 3m (T2=182), 6m (T3=149), 1y (T4=123), 2y (T5=90), 3y (T6=62), 4y (T7=48), 5y (T8=40), 6y (T9=33), 7y (T10=22), 8y (T11=11), 9y (T12=4). G. Maximum increment from T0 noted Δ M %. Average increment noted Δ A %. H. Statistical analysis: Student test.

Results: I. All average prostatic volume for decade – tabulated (see pdf). Maximum increment (Δ M %) per decade, including the moment (Δ M % at) and average increment (Δ A %) – tabulated (see pdf). II. PV at T0 increases with age, from minimum 15.38 (19–29y) to maximum 45.5 (80–89y), P=0.0007. III. Considering all observations, TUD did not increase PV significantly; in fact the average of increment in all patients was negative=−22.38%. Δ M % per decade: 45.95; 31.82; 56.41; 55.77; 45.45; 64.41; 42.11; 20 IV. Inside a specific decade no significant increased in PV was registered: all P>0.05; exception: 80–89 decade, P=0.002, from 3 to 5 y. V. In some patients, especially from 40-79 years, TUD could decrease slightly prostatic volume.

Conclusions: Considering the risk for prostate (in elderly), testosterone undecanoat 1000 mg depot injectable is a safe treatment, even after 9 years of administration. Precautions should be accorded to men over 80 y old, after the 2nd year administration.