Treatment of Prostatic Cancer: Effects on Serum Lipoproteins and the Cardiovascular System

Abstract

Patients (32) with prostatic cancer before, and after 1 and 6 mo. of treatment with orchiectomy, estramustine phosphate or conventional estrogens (polyestradiol phosphate plus ethinyl estradiol) were studied. Lipid metabolism was evaluated by lipoprotein analysis and the i.v. fat tolerance test. Effects on the cardiovascular system were studied by exercise ECG, blood volume estimation and thoracic electrical impedance measurement, a sensitive method to detect early signs of fluid retention. Present treatment programs for prostatic cancer seem to result in effects on lipoprotein metabolism that probably are of minor importance for the development of atherosclerotic manifestations. Measurement of thoracic impedance may be of value to detect fluid retention in individual patients.