Since the male secondary sex characters, libido and fertility are attributed to their major androgen hormone testosterone, the sub-optimum levels of testosterone in young adults may cause infertility and irregularities in their sexual behaviour. Such deficiency is often secondary to maladies involving testes, pituitary or hypothalamus that could be treated with an administration of exogenous testosterone. In the last few decades, the number of testosterone prescriptions has markedly increased to treat sub-optimal serum levels even though its administration in such conditions is not yet approved. On account of its associated cardiovascular hazards, the food and drug authority in the United States has issued safety alerts on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Owing to a great degree of conflict among their findings, the published clinical trials seem struggling in presenting a decisive opinion on the matter. Hence, the clinicians remain uncertain about the possible cardiovascular adversities while prescribing TRT in hypogonadal men. The uncertainty escalates even further while prescribing such therapy in older men with a previous history of cardiovascular ailments. In the current review, we analysed the pre-clinical and clinical studies to evaluate the physiological impact of testosterone on cardiovascular and related parameters. We have enlisted studies on the association of cardiovascular health and endogenous testosterone levels with a comprehensive analysis of epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and meta-analyses on the cardiovascular risk of TRT. The review is aimed to assist clinicians in making smart decisions regarding TRT in their patients.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2020 Jun 19 [Epub ahead of print]
Zelal Jaber Kharaba, Manal Ali Buabeid, Nihal A Ibrahim, Feras Jassim Jirjees, Hala Jehad Al Obaidi, Adnan Kaddaha, Laleh Khajehkarimoddini, Yassen Alfoteih
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates., Department of Clinical Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates., College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates., School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK., Aster Cedars Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates., City University College of Ajman, Ajman, 18484, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: .