A new study suggests that treatment with testosterone is linked with a significantly higher increase in coronary artery noncalcified plaque volume in older men with symptomatic hypogonadism. The placebo-controlled trial, conducted at nine academic medical centers in the United States, included 138 men aged 65 years or older with an average of 2 serum testosterone levels lower than 275 ng/dL and symptoms suggestive of hypogonadism in the primary analysis. Of those men, 73 received testosterone treatment and 65 received placebo; and 70 overall had a coronary artery calcification score indicative of severe atherosclerosis. For the primary outcome, testosterone treatment was associated with a significantly greater increase in noncalcified plaque volume from baseline to 1 year, compared with placebo. Additionally, treatment was associated with increased total plaque volume, though not with changes in coronary artery calcium score. No major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in either of the groups. To better understand the clinical implications of the findings, the researchers note that larger studies are needed.

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Testosterone treatment and coronary artery plaque volume in older men with low testosterone - Pharmacy Today, American Pharmacists Association,...

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