Effects of oral administration of chlormadinone acetate on canine prostatic hypertrophy

Seven of the 25 dogs (4 to 15 years old) with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) at the teaching hospital of Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University from 1989 through 1990 were treated orally with chlormadinone acetate (CMA), a synthetic anti-androgen, 2 mg/kg/day, twice a day for 3 or 4 weeks. Prostatic size was measured by radiography and ultrasonography before and after CMA treatment, and prostatic volume was calculated from the images. Semen quality was examined in 3 of the dogs with BPH. Peripheral blood samples were collected and plasma levels of LH, 4-androstenedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, testosterone and estradiol-17 beta were measured. Clinical signs disappeared within 10 days after the start of CMA treatment. The mean (+/- S.E.) prostatic volume 3 or 4 weeks after treatment decreased to 39 +/- 4% of the pretreatment volume. The mean level of plasma testosterone in the dogs with BPH before treatment was significantly lower than that in the normal dogs (P < 0.01). In 6 of the CMA-treated dogs the levels of all hormones examined, except LH, were significantly lower after CMA treatment than before (P < 0.05). The sperm count and motility decreased and the percentage of abnormal sperms increased after CMA treatment. These results demonstrate that, although CMA treatment in dogs with BPH inhibits testicular function, the prostatic volume is markedly reduced and clinical signs disappear in a short period after the therapy. However, a relapse of BPH was observed approximately 6 months after oral CMA treatment in some dogs.