Androgen deprivation in males is associated with decreased central arterial compliance and reduced central systolic blood pressure

The higher incidence of coronary artery disease in men is often attributed to androgens. Arterial compliance or 'stiffness' is increasingly regarded a s a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We wanted to look at the effects of complete androgen withdrawal, on arterial compliance in men . We performed arterial compliance studies on 12 men with complete androgen deprivation as treatment for prostate cancer, and on 12 age-matched health y controls. Central pulse wave velocities were significantly higher in the androgen-deprived men (14.2 +/- 2.7 vs 11.8 +/- 1.6 m/sec, P = 0.02), The c ases tended to have higher brachial systolic pressures than controls though this difference was not significant (P = 0.2), We conclude that androgen w ithdrawal is associated with a reduction in central arterial compliance. Co nversely androgen withdrawal does not affect peripheral arterial compliance . It is unlikely that the presence of normal concentrations of androgens ca n explain the sex difference in mortality rates. Longitudinal studies are n eeded for further evaluation.