Eligard®:: Advantages for optimal testosterone control

Objectives: In this review article, bilateral orchiectomy is compared with conventional luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists in terms of efficacy, safety, patients' perception of health, and testosterone suppression. The efficacy and safety of a new LHRH depot formulation, Eligard((R)), is compared with conventional LHRH agonists. Methods: A Medline search was performed in the beginning of 2006. Only fully published studies and review articles in English were included. Results: Conventional LHRH agonists are not equivalent to bilateral orchiectomy in terms of testosterone suppression. They also cause a higher incidence of hot flashes as compared to bilateral orchiectomy. Patients treated with LHRH agonists seem to worry more about their disease than patients who underwent bilateral orchiectomy. Studies have shown that Eligard, a new extended-release leuprolide formulation, achieves and maintains testosterone suppression equivalent to bilateral orchiectomy. Eligard 1- and 3-mo formulations have a similar side-effect profile as other conventional LHRH agonists and induce few severe hot flashes. Conclusions: Eligard is able to achieve and maintain testosterone suppression levels equal to bilateral orchiectomy. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Association of Urology.