[Therapy of vasomotor syndrome in the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer: apropos of 37 cases].

Castration, whether surgical (orchiectomy) or pharmacological (androgen blockade), used in the management of advanced prostatic carcinoma, induces as a secondary effect, immediately following impotence, the onset of a vasomotor syndrome characterized by hot flushes and sweating. This syndrome which may present with such intensity and frequency as to severely affect the quality of life and even the psychological equilibrium of the patient. Treatment with progestinic agents leads to the release of opioid peptides at hypothalamic level, thus decreasing the level of catecholamines responsible for the vasomotor syndrome. In the 37 cases treated with progestogens, a therapeutic efficacy of 80% was observed following cyproterone acetate and of 70% following medroxyprogesterone acetate.