Adénome prostatique, hormones et androgénothérapie

The prostate is an androgen dependent organ. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has a high prevalence in histological studies, but all the affected men do not present symptoms. Aging and the presence of androgens are the main determinants of BPH. However, androgen blood levels were not higher in patients with BPH than in the general population. Suppression of androgens induced a decrease in prostatic volume. Androgen replacement therapy resulted in a re-increase of prostatic volume, but during androgen replacement therapy the prostate volume was only slighty increased, it any, thus remaining within normal range. The present review of the literature indicates that BPH is no a contra-indication for androgen replacement therapy in men with partial or complete androgen deficiency. However, it must be noticed that in most of the studies published so far subjects with BPH have been excluded. A specific study involving such patients is to be undertaken.