Testosterone supplements may improve the quality of life for patients who have a certain heart condition, a new study says.

In the study, testosterone patches and injections improved the breathing and exercise abilities of people with heart failure, a chronic inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Although most of the study participants were men, the researchers said the results would likely apply to women as well, through much smaller doses of testosterone.

Some heart failure patients have symptoms even after standard therapies, such as drugs called beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, said study researcher Dr. Justin Ezekowitz. an inability to exercise is one of the hallmark symptoms of heart failure, Ezekowitz said.

“They physically cannot walk as far or as fast or as much as they could when they were healthy,” Ezekowitz said.

“Testosterone appears to be a promising therapy” to improve exercise ability in heart failure patients, the researchers said.

However, Ezekowitz said patients should not start using testosterone supplements based on these results. larger studies would be needed to confirm the findings and figure out which method of delivery is best and what doses are appropriate.

Testosterone and heart failure

Ezekowitz and colleagues analyzed data from four previous studies in which patients were randomly assigned to receive either testosterone therapy or a placebo for 12 to 52 weeks. About 200 patients in total participated; their average age was 67, and 84 percent were men. Patients were also taking standard medical treatments for heart failure.

During a six-minute walking test, patients taking testosterone therapy walked an average of 177 feet farther (54 meters) than those taking a placebo — a greater improvement than what has been achieved with current therapies alone, the researchers said.

Patients on testosterone therapy also saw an increase in the amount of oxygen the body used per minute of exercise, a measure known as VO2 max, which is a general indicator of a person’s fitness level.

No adverse effects on the heart were seen.

How it works

Testosterone may help these patients not because it directly affects the heart itself but because it may target the peripheral tissues, such as the skeletal muscles, Ezekowitz said.

The hormone has been shown to widen blood vessels, allowing more blood to reach peripheral tissues. It may also increase levels of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen. however, further work is needed to determine exactly how testosterone acts in heart failure patients.

An earlier study of testosterone in older men had to be halted due to increased risk of cardiovascular events, the researchers noted. however, that study did not include heart failure patients and used higher doses of testosterone, they said.

More studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of testosterone therapy. Previous studies have found an association between high doses of testosterone and an increase incidence of prostate cancer, Ezekowitz said.

In the new study, there was a small increase in levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) among men who took testosterone therapy. (High PSA levels are associated with prostate cancer.) Patients on testosterone therapy should be monitored for changes in PSA levels, Ezekowitz said.

The study was published April 17 in the journal Circulation Heart Failure.

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Grisha Balasanyan16:23, November 24, 2011

Lilit should be entering the fifth grade but she’s been left back.

Her medical condition is such that the young girl hardly attends class. Lilit is given to long coughing bouts.

The girl doesn’t seem to mind that much given that she won’t be surrounded by the same classmates that used to make fun of her.

At first, parents and even some teachers thought Lilit suffered from tuberculosis. Recently, physicians have diagnosed something more alarming – cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis).

It’s a recessive multi-system genetic disease characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across epithelium, leading to thick, viscous secretions in the lungs, pancreas, liver, and intestine.

The hallmark symptoms of cystic fibrosis are salty tasting skin poor growth and poor weight gain despite a normal food intake, accumulation of thick, sticky mucus, frequent chest infections and coughing or shortness of breath.

For the past three years Lilit has spent most of her days in hospital under the car of doctors.

Lilit’s aunt, Narineh Sargsyan, says the illness is incurable and that now they are simply trying to prolong the girl’s life expectancy.

When we visited Lilit, one of her coughing spells acted up. Family members were afraid because there was a lot of mucous coming up and the girl was having trouble breathing.

When doctors diagnosed CF and they registered Lilit as “disabled”, they advised the family to purchase a special piece of medical equipment. Medicine would be filled into the unit and Lilit would breathe it in. It’s the only way to bring the girl back to a conscious state in a short time.

But Narineh says the unit must be special ordered and that it costs 60,000 AMD ($170). the family was despondent since they couldn’t afford the life-saving unit but a kindhearted nurse, Satik Arturovna, gave the unit to the family free of charge. she realized that the child couldn’t get by without it.

Lilit uses the unit to breath 2-3 times daily and takes a regimen of medicines and nutritional supplements.

Lilit is starting to lose weight – a bad sign.

A t first, the doctors wanted to operate but decided to hold off till Lilit got older and the illness progressed. They aren’t sure if Lilit will make it to her twentieth birthday.

Lilit and her family live in the Sipanik village in Ararat Marz. the family can’t make ends meet let alone pay for Lilit’s medical care.

Lilit’s mother Karineh told us that her other child Benik is ill as well due to the dampness in the trailer they call home. Doctors have diagnosed that the boy has kidney nephritis.

Hetq covered the story of Lilit last year but there was no response from the government. the only form of assistance came from the Diakonia charitable organization in the form of periodic food packages.

This year Lilit sat down and wrote a letter to Armenia’s first Lady Rita Sargsyan. but the letter was addressed to the Ararat Regional Authority. Edik Barseghyan, the Regional Governor, responded that his office had financially assisted the young girl.

The assistance Barseghyan mentions amounted to 20,000 AMD ($60) and was used to but Lilit a school uniform this September.

Lilit’s aunt wrote a second letter to first Lady Rita Sargsyan. she included a picture of the girl breathing with the assistance of the medical device.

A few days ago the family received a reply stating that the first Lady wouldn’t be able to help until February 2012.

Once, the family wrote to the Catholicos saying, “if you refuse to help this girl remember that every day the church bells chime Lilit has held out her hand to you for help.”

The family received no answer from the church.

The Red Cross office in Armenia told the family that it only assists those with HIV/AIDS.

Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Tigran Stepanyan is the legislative representative for the village of Sipanik. Narineh says she wrote to the PAP office in Masis but that her request for assistance was turned down. MP Stepanyan is aware of the girl’s medical condition but said he doesn’t deal with such matters.

Narineh also wrote to the Gagik Tsarukyan Foundation, but says they never answered.

Lilit’s mother says that received 25,000 AMD from the village municipality bad they spent it on school supplies.

Narineh has lost all hope. she says that there is no one coming forth to help Lilit.

“Lilit has lost her health but she at least be afforded the chance to have a happy childhood. We draw strength from God and will never give up seeking assistance. there is no one else to rely on. the elections are coming and at least the candidates will be doling out 5,000 Drams for votes,” Narineh laments.

The young girl can’t even watch her favorite cartoons. the TV is tiny and old. the family is forced to burn wood to keep the trailer they live in warm. They collect wood from the streets and even burn discarded clothes found in the trash.

Karineh says that when the fire goes out even water in the house freezes.

When it was time for us to leave, Lilit showed us a picture of a house she painted. the house has two doors,

She said that one of the doors was for her Aunt Narineh and her cousins.

Lilit told us that she cannot imagine living without them.