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Taken from WWW.pubmed.gov (testosterone studies)
Eur Heart J. 2006 Jan;27(1):57-64. Epub 2005 Aug 10.
Testosterone therapy in men with moderate severity heart failure: a double-blind randomized placebo
controlled trial.
Malkin CJ,
Pugh PJ,
West JN,
van Beek EJ,
Jones TH,
Channer KS.
Department of Cardiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK.
AIMS: Chronic heart failure is associated with maladaptive and prolonged neurohormonal and
pro-inflammatory cytokine activation causing a metabolic shift favouring catabolism, vasodilator
incapacity, and loss of skeletal muscle bulk and function. In men, androgens are important determinants
of anabolic function and physical strength and also possess anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory properties.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial of
testosterone replacement therapy (5 mg Androderm) at physiological doses in 76 men (mean+/-SD,
age 64+/-9.9) with heart failure (ejection fraction 32.5+/-11%) over a maximum follow-up period of 12
months. The primary endpoint was functional capacity as assessed by the incremental shuttle walk test
(ISWT). At baseline, 18 (24%) had serum testosterone below the normal range and bioavailable testosterone
correlated with distance walked on the initial ISWT (r=0.3, P=0.01). Exercise capacity significantly
improved with testosterone therapy compared with placebo over the full study period (mean change +25+/-15 m)
corresponding to a 15+/-11% improvement from baseline (P=0.006 ANOVA). Symptoms improved by at least one
functional class on testosterone in 13 (35%) vs. 3 (8%) on placebo (P=0.01). No significant changes were
found in handgrip strength, skeletal muscle bulk by cross-sectional computed tomography, or in tumour
necrosis factor levels. Testosterone therapy was safe with no excess of adverse events although the patch
preparation was not well tolerated by the study patients.
CONCLUSION: Testosterone replacement therapy
improves functional capacity and symptoms in men with moderately severe heart failure.
PMID: 16093267 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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