FINASTERIDE THERAPY DOES NOT ALTER DONE TURNOVER IN MEN WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA - A CLINICAL RESEARCH-CENTER STUDY

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is often treated with finasteride, which inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Aside from the prostate, other androgen-dependent tissues seem to be u naffected by selective DHT deficiency, but the affect on bone density in humans has not Set been defined. To study this question, we compare d indices of bone turnover and bone mineral density in 35 men treated with finasteride with controls. Bone resorption was assessed by measur ing urinary excretion of N-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen and hydroxyproline, and bone formation was assessed by measuring serum osteocalcin and bonespecific alkaline phosphatase. Bone density of th e spine and hip were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. We found that finasteride-treated patients had mean DHT levels 81% lower than controls (P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences betw een the two groups in any of the markers of bone turnover or measures of bone density. These results suggest that testosterone can maintain bone density in men even in the absence of DHT. Although long term stu dies are needed, our results suggest that men who take finasteride are not at increased risk for bone loss.