Effect Of Androgen Deprivation Therapy On Bone Mineral Density In Prostate Cancer Patients

Aim: To evaluate the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in prostate cancer patients. Methods: Forty-nine prostate cancer patients with their BMD determined were divided into two groups: the non-treated group included 21 patients before the commencement of ADT and the treated group, 28 patients, who had received ADT for more than I year. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck. Results: Thirteen (62 %) non-treated and 23 (82 %) treated patients fulfilled the BMD criteria for osteopenia or osteoporosis. Z scores for age-matched control in lumbar spine and femoral neck were -0.9 +/- 0.7 and -0.6 +/- 0.5, respectively, in the treated group, and -1.8 +/- 1.1 and-1.6 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the non-treated group, the differences between the two groups were highly significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: Prostate cancer patients who received ADT for more than I year had a significantly lower BMD in the lumbar spine and femoral neck than those before the beginning of ADT.