Conclusions The effects of testosterone on cardiovascular-related events varied with source of funding .
Nevertheless , overall and particularly in trials not funded by the pharmaceutical industry , exogenous testosterone increased the risk of cardiovascular-related events , with corresponding implication s for the use of testosterone therapy
Background Testosterone therapy is increasingly promoted .
No r and omized placebo-controlled trial has been implemented to assess the effect of testosterone therapy on cardiovascular events , although very high levels of and rogens are thought to promote cardiovascular disease .
A randomized trial of testosterone therapy in males with rheumatoid arthritis.
Thirty-five male patients , aged 34 - 79 yr , with definite rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) were recruited from out-patient clinics and r and omized to receive monthly injections of testosterone enanthate 250 mg or placebo as an adjunct therapy for 9 months . Endpoints included disease activity parameters and bone mineral density ( BMD ) . At baseline , there were negative correlations between the ESR and serum testosterone ( r = -0.42 , P < 0.01 ) and BMD ( hip , r = -0.65 , P < 0.01 ) . A total of 29.6 % of all patients had at least one vertebral fracture , most having multiple fractures . Back pain , however , was not more prevalent in fracture patients ( 55 % vs 50 % ) . Disease activity was significantly higher in the fracture group ( joint score P < 0.05 , rheumatoid factor P < 0.01 ) . Thirty patients completed the trial , 15 receiving testosterone and 15 receiving placebo . There were significant rises in serum testosterone , dihydrotestosterone and oestradiol in the treatment group . There was no significant effect of treatment on disease activity overall , five patients receiving testosterone underwent a " flare ' . Differences in mean BMD following testosterone or placebo were non-significant ( spine : + 1.2 % vs -1.1 % ; femur : -0.3 % vs + 0.3 % ) . There was no suggestion of a positive effect of testosterone on disease activity in men with RA
Conclusions The effects of testosterone on cardiovascular-related events varied with source of funding .
Nevertheless , overall and particularly in trials not funded by the pharmaceutical industry , exogenous testosterone increased the risk of cardiovascular-related events , with corresponding implication s for the use of testosterone therapy
Background Testosterone therapy is increasingly promoted .
No r and omized placebo-controlled trial has been implemented to assess the effect of testosterone therapy on cardiovascular events , although very high levels of and rogens are thought to promote cardiovascular disease .