Measurement of skin blood‐flow and water evaporation as a means of objectively assessing hot flushes after orchidectomy in patients with prostatic cancer

Abstract

Hot flushes can occur after orchidectomy for carcinoma of the prostate and are sometimes greatly distressing for patients. Attacks are difficult to register because of their transient and unpredictable nature and have been the object of very little scientific investigation. In 13 postorchidectomy patients who reported hot flushes we recorded cutaneous blood-flow and sweating by use of a laser-Doppler flowmeter and an evaporimeter. A total of 23 attacks were recorded. The rate of evaporation increased by more than 60 g/m2/h in ten attacks, from 10 to 60 g/m2/h in five attacks, and by less than 10 g/m2/h in seven attacks. The cutaneous blood-flow increased synchronously with the increase in evaporation. The intensity of the attacks as experienced by the patients corresponded closely to recorded measurements.

Acupuncture Treatment of Vasomotor Symptoms in Men With Prostatic Carcinoma: A Pilot Study

“…Acupuncture treatment in men with hot flushes/Hammar et al 4 attack after orchidectomy (9) and changes in skin blood-flow and water evaporation were found in 13 postorchidectomy patients during flushing (10). Reports emphasize that hot flushes are sometimes the most distressing symtom, and were reported after orchidectomy in 58-76% of the cases (10,11), in which 27% were greatly distressed (10).…”

Physiology and Endocrinology of Hot Flashes in Prostate Cancer

“…It has been well recognized as a significant clinical problem in menopausal women and women treated for breast cancer. However, it is also a significant problem for men treated with androgen ablation for prostate cancer based on the hypothesis that the tumor is androgen dependent (Frodin, Alund, & Varenhorst, 1985;Loprinzi et al, 1998). The article reviews the physiology and endocrinology of these hot flashes in men.…”

Mecanismo fisiopatológico de los sofocos-sudores inducidos por deprivación androgénica en el carcinoma prostático

“…La teoría de la deprivación hormonal en el hombre con carcinoma prostático se muestra atractiva y se sustenta en la aparición de las crisis del sofoco tras la ooforectomía 30 y tras la castración, tanto médica 26,31,32 como quirúrgica 33 . Asimismo, esta teoría se ve favorecida por la respuesta a la terapia hormonal sustitutiva o tras su abandono 34,35 . En su contra, cabe señalar la ausencia de esta clínica en el hipogonadismo congé-nito (síndromes de Turner y Kallman) y en la prepubertad 36 .…”