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07 February 2010 Androgen deprivation therapy can increase heart risk factorsThe AHA advisory, produced by a writing group of experts from the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Urological Association and American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, is an evaluation of published research about the relationship between ADT and cardiovascular events and risk factors in patients with prostate cancer. Considerable data show that androgen deprivation therapy can increase fat mass, increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - the "bad" cholesterol - and cause blood sugar abnormalities, according to the writing group. While some studies have found an association between androgen deprivation therapy and increased cardiovascular risk, other studies have not detected the association, according to the advisory. The writing group called for future studies to prospectively analyze heart risks related to ADT whenever possible. An increased risk with androgen deprivation therapy was noted in 1 percent to 6 percent of the study populations. Thus, "while there may be some increased heart risk, the decision about whether to initiate ADT should be based on weighing the benefits of therapy with this potential modest risk," he said. Decisions about ADT should be made by the physician treating the patient for prostate cancer without referral to other specialists, according to the advisory. However, given the metabolic effects of ADT therapy, patients receiving ADT should be followed periodically by their primary care physicians. Patients with known heart disease should always be encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and receive the appropriate preventive therapies if necessary, including lipid-lowering, blood pressure-lowering, glucose-lowering therapy and antiplatelet therapies (such as aspirin), Levine said NOTE: Issues on this site regarding prostate cancer and treatment options, are provided for information only, and are not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. Prostate-Report.org does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment. |
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