title: Evidence for testicular impairment after long-term treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist in elderly men.
abstract: Testicular responsiveness to 5,000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin was evaluated in 14 patients with prostate cancer who were being treated with a slow-release luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist for a median of 21 months. Serum testosterone response to human chorionic gonadotropin was markedly reduced in most patients, with the median level increasing from 0.25 to 1.65 nmol. per l. A second human chorionic gonadotropin test was repeated later in 5 patients who had been off treatment for a median of 6 months. Median serum testosterone levels increased to a maximum of 2.6 nmol. per l. compared to 28.2 nmol. per l. in an age-matched control group (p equals 0.008). Therefore, we conclude that long-term treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists in elderly men leads to gonadal impairment that may not be as reversible as generally suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, National Institute for Cancer Research, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Decensi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guarneri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marroni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Cristina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paganuzzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boccardo
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone