TRANSURETHRAL MICROWAVE THERMOTHERAPY IN SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN PROSTATICHYPERPLASIA - A POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANDROGEN STATUS AND TREATMENT RESULT

BACKGROUND. Nothing is yet known of possible endocrine effects of tran surethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) or of possible influence of e ndocrine status on the result of thermotherapy. METHODS. Serum levels of testosterone (T), SHBG, estradiol, LH, and FSH were measured in 48 men with BPH before and 2-3 months after TUMT (Prostatron(R), Prostaso ft 2.0; Technomed international, Lyon, France). Assessment of results was based on the patients' own estimations. RESULTS. The treatment did not alter hormone levels. Patients who reported response after 12 mon ths (n = 21) had significantly lower outset levels of calculated free testosterone (fT) than in the nonresponders (n = 27). In the patients aged <70 years (n = 13), both the fT and T values were lower than in t he nonresponders (n = 15). There was no age difference between respond ers and nonresponders. CONCLUSIONS. TUMT did not influence hormone lev els. These observations suggest that androgen status may influence the final result of treatment. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.