[Effect of dihydrotestosterone treatment on exercise induced ischemia in men with stable ischemic heart disease].

Many studies report the negative correlation between the endogenous testosterone (T) level and majority of risk factors for arteriosclerosis, as well as the presence and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in men. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as a non-aromatizable androgen produces more favourable changes in the hormone profile than T. A constant level of androgens, independent on liver function, may be achieved by their transdermal administration. The aim of our study was to determine in a double-blind placebo study whether a 12-week treatment with transdermal DHT can decrease exercise-induced ischaemia in males with CAD. All patients underwent symptom-limited treadmill stress testing at the beginning of the study and after DHT treatment. The selected preliminary results are presented in this paper. Until now the study group has comprised ten men with stable CAD and decreased morning total T concentration. No side effects of treatment were noted during the study. Chronic DHT administration increased significantly: total exercise time, time to the onset of angina and time to 1 mm ST depression. Our results are consistent with the previous publications investigating T effects. The changes of heart rate and systolic blood pressure indicate rather direct coronary-relaxing effect of DHT than peripheral one.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes