Urology

Answer 8 Flutamide. Leuprolide is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist used as androgen deprivation therapy in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Initiation of LHRH agonists causes an initial flare phenomenon of elevated testosterone and luteinizing hormone that manifests clinically as an increase in disease-related symptoms, such as bone pain, urinary obstruction, or cord compression. Coadministration of antiandrogens such as flutamide prior to initiating LHRH agonists blocks the effect of the initial hormonal elevation. As castrate levels of testosterone are predictably reached within the first several weeks of therapy, antiandrogens are only required for the first 21 to 28 days of LHRH treatment to prevent the flare phenomenon. Click here to return to the questions

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