Side effects of androgen deprivation and their management

Abstract

The knowledge of secondary effects of androgen deprivation has improved. Besides hot flushes and erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular and bone complications must be taken into consideration once medication has been indicated and also during treatment. The onset of diabetes can occur early, within six months after the start of treatment, with dyslipidaemia being far rarer. An increase in the frequency of cardiovascular events and cardiac mortality remains controversial. There is now sufficient evidence to show that androgen deprivation moderately increases the risk of osteoporotic-type bone disorders. A greater understanding of the secondary effects will require an initial clinical and paraclinical study, as well as the monitoring of longterm hormone therapy. To cite this journal: Oncologie 14 (2012).