H-36731: Finasteride in Management of Elevated Red Blood Cells
Status:
Withdrawn
Trial end date:
2016-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Hypogonadism (low testosterone) is becoming an increasingly recognized problem that affects
numerous men in the United States. Symptoms may be always feeling tired, lower sex drive, and
loss of muscle mass. Treatment typically involves testosterone in either injections or a
topical gel form.
However, administration of testosterone is not without side effects of its own. Testosterone
supplementation therapy is known to cause a variety of side effects including high blood
pressure and high lipids (fats) and an increased proportion of red blood cells. Side effects
of increased red blood cells can include an increased risk of developing a blood clot.
The increase in the red blood cells is related to dihydrotestosterone (DHT - a male sex
hormone) activity. It is normal for the testosterone to become DHT. DHT has various effects
on the body including growth of the prostate gland, baldness, and others and DHT levels have
been linked to elevated red blood cell counts in men on testosterone.
Finasteride is an FDA approved medication used in the treatment of benign prostatic
hypertrophy (BPH) in men with enlarged prostate to improve symptoms and to reduce the risk of
the need for surgery. Finasteride may prevent elevations in or reduce elevated red blood cell
levels in men on testosterone.