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Anaemia in men receiving combined finasteride and flutamide therapy for advanced prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Ornstein D.K.,
Beiser J.A.,
Andriole G.L.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1999.00844.x
Subject(s) - flutamide , finasteride , prostate cancer , medicine , oncology , prostate , urology , cancer , gynecology , androgen receptor
Objective To determine the effect of combined finasteride and flutamide therapy on haemoglobin and haematocrit values in men with advanced prostate cancer. 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 counts were performed before initiation and after 6 months of therapy. Results After 6 months of finasteride and flutamide therapy both haemoglobin levels and haematocrit decreased in all men, with a mean (sd, range) decrease 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, and further study of this effect is warranted.