Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3904592 | Urology | 2007 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a commonly used treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. A 78-year-old patient with metastatic prostate cancer had transfusion-dependent anemia develop while on ADT. The patient also had hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), with chronic gastrointestinal blood loss. Blood transfusions were required every 3 weeks for 4 months to keep hemoglobin levels above 8 g/dL, despite discontinuation of ADT. The anemia, which had been well managed with iron therapy before ADT, was worsened by the loss of bone marrow-stimulating testosterone effects. The case highlights testosterone's important role in erythrocyte production. Practitioners should monitor hemoglobin levels in patients undergoing ADT.
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Authors
Kelly K. Curtis, Rajiv K. Pruthi, Rafael Fonseca, Michael K. Gornet,