ABSTRACT Current knowledge concerning parenteral oestrogen therapy of patients with prostatic carcinoma seems to show that depot injections of polyestradiol phosphate 240 mg monthly is enough to achieve castration levels of testosterone and an antitumour effect comparable to that of orchidectomy or treatment with GnRH agonists. We have shown that the adverse effects of oral oestrogen on the cardiovascular system seem to a major part be due to increased synthesis of liver synthesised proteins such as coagulation factors and in particular of coagulation factor VII. Parenteral oestrogen in current dose does only have a minor influence on liver synthesised proteins and no significant effect on factor VII could be found. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality do not seem to be increased. In favour of parenteral oestrogen therapy are also the possible bone-saving effects, fewer side effects and the low cost of the therapy. In conclusion, parenteral oestrogen therapy seems to offer an excellent alternative in the endocrine treatment of prostatic carcinoma in very respects.
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