Association of diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero with cryptorchidism, testicular hypoplasia and semen abnormalities.
Epididymal cysts and/or hypoplastic testes have been found in 31.5 per cent of 308 men exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, compared to 7.8 per cent of 307 placebo-exposed controls. Analyses of the spermatozoa have revealed severe pathological changes (Eliasson score greater than 10) in 134 diethylstilbestrol-exposed men (18 per cent) and 87 placebo-exposed men (8 per cent). Further investigation of the 26 diethylstilbestrol-exposed men with testicular hypoplasia has revealed that 65 per cent had a history of cryptorchidism. Only 1 of the 6 placebo-exposed controls with testicular hypoplasia had a history of testicular maldescent. Although none of our Diekmann's lying-in study group has had carcinoma to date one must keep in mind the reported increased risk of testicular carcinoma in testes that are or were cryptorchid. A 25-year-old man who was not part of the study group was treated recently by us for a testicular carcinoma ( mixed anaplastic seminoma plus embryonal cell carcinoma) and he had a history of diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero and cryptorchidism.
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003560:Cysts / Q000139:chemically induced; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities*
D010919:Placebos; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone