Definition |
The ‘flare phenomenon’ might lead to detrimental effects such as increased bone pain, acute bladder outlet obstruction, obstructive renal failure, spinal cord compression, and cardiovascular death due to hypercoagulation status. Clinical flare needs to be distinguished from the biochemical flare and even from asymptomatic radiographic evidence of progression. Patients at risk are usually those with high-volume, symptomatic, bony disease. Concomitant therapy with an anti-androgen decreases the incidence of clinical flare, but does not completely suppress the risk.Some testosterone mini-flares have also been observed with the LHRH agonists. The clinical impact might be associated with a negative impact on OS (see Section 6.6.3.1).
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