Title
Adverse effects of testosterone therapy in adult men: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Date Issued
01 January 2010
Access level
open access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
Fernández-Balsells M.
Murad M.
Lane M.
Lampropulos J.
Albuquerque F.
Mullan R.
Agrwal N.
Elamin M.
Gallegos-Orozco J.
Wang A.
Erwin P.
Bhasin S.
Mayo Clinic
Publisher(s)
Endocrine Society
Abstract
Context: The risks of testosterone therapy in men remain poorly understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses of testosterone trials to evaluate the adverse effects of testosterone treatment in men. Data Sources:Wesearched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL from 2003 through August 2008. Review of reference lists and contact with experts further identified candidate studies. Study Selection: Eligible studies were comparative, randomized, and nonrandomized and reported the effects of testosterone on outcomes of interest (death, cardiovascular events and risk factors, prostate outcomes, and erythrocytosis). Reviewers, working independently and in duplicate, determined study eligibility. Data Extraction: Reviewers working independently and in duplicate determined the methodological quality of studies and collected descriptive, quality, and outcome data. Data Synthesis: The methodological quality of the 51 included studies varied from low to medium, and follow-up duration ranged from 3 months to 3 yr. Testosterone treatment was associated with a significant increase in hemoglobin [weightedmeandifference (WMD), 0.80 g/dl;95%confidence interval (CI), 0.45 to 1.14] and hematocrit (WMD, 3.18%; 95% CI, 1.35 to 5.01), and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD, -0.49 mg/dl; 95% CI, -0.85 to -0.13). There was no significant effect on mortality, prostate, or cardiovascular outcomes. Conclusions: The adverse effects of testosterone therapy include an increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit and a small decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These findings are of unknown clinical significance. Current evidence about the safety of testosterone treatment inmen in terms of patient-important outcomes is of low quality and is hampered by the brief study follow-up. Copyright © 2010 by The Endocrine Society.
Start page
2560
End page
2575
Volume
95
Issue
6
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Sistema cardiaco, Sistema cardiovascular Tecnología médica de laboratorio (análisis de muestras, tecnologías para el diagnóstico)
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-77954394453
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Resource of which it is part
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
ISSN of the container
0021972X
DOI of the container
10.1210/jc.2009-2575
Source funding
Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo
Endocrine Society
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported by a contract from The Endocrine Society. M.M.F.-B. has received grant support from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo ( BA08/90035 ), Government of Spain.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus