Anaemia in men receiving combined finasteride and flutamide therapy for advanced prostate cancer

Objective To determine the effect of combined finasteride and flutamide the rapy on haemoglobin and haematocrit values in men with advanced prostate ca ncer. Patients and methods Nineteen men, previously untreated by hormone therapy, with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate and clinical evidence of advanced disease, were treated with combined finasteride (5 mg/ day) and flutamide (750 mg/day) for at least 6 months. Complete blood count s were performed before initiation and after 6 months of therapy. Results After 6 months of finasteride and flutamide therapy both haemoglobi n levels and haematocrit decreased in all men, with a mean (SD, range) decr ease of 16 (10, 3-42) g/L and 4.6 (2.7, 0.8-9.9)%, respectively. Conclusion Combined finasteride and flutamide therapy significantly lowers haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in men with advanced prostate cancer, an d further study of this effect is warranted.