Hormonal environment following treatment with a small dose of estrogen--small dose of estrogen alone and in combination with an anti-androgen

The testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay up to one year in 21 patients with prostatic carcinoma treated with diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DESP), 50 mg/day, and chlormadinone acetate (CMA), 100 mg/day. The purpose of this treatment was to reduce the cardiovascular side effects which were believed to occur dose-dependently and to achieve the direct drug action to the prostate gland. The same measurements were made on 9 patients treated with DESP, 50 mg/day, alone. Marked reduction of plasma testosterone and FSH levels with weaker LH suppressions was observed during the first 1-3 months in both groups. The same levels were maintained up to the end of follow-up in DESP and CMA treatment group. In the DESP treatment group, the plasma level of testosterone showed a gradual increase to 1.0 +/- 0.5 ng/ml at the sixth month. Prolactin level increased gradually in both groups. Cardiovascular side-effects were found in 29% of the patients treated with DESP and CMA and in 22% of those treated with DESP alone. In two patients in the former group gynecomastia with lactation was observed.