The preventive effect of systemic treatment with interferon-alpha2B for infertility from mumps orchitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of interferon-alpha2B on mumps orchitis, often caused by postpubertal mumps and which can result in permanent testicular atrophy.


METHODS
The study included 21 patients with mumps orchitis, treated between May 1990 and June 1997. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups: in group 1, 13 patients received therapy with interferon-alpha2B (3 x 10(6) IU per day) and group 2 did not, acting as controls. All were evaluated by measurements of testis size, mumps virus titre, hormone level and semen analysis.


RESULTS
In group 1, the patients' symptoms resolved within 2-3 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 11 days; there was no testicular atrophy in any patient during the follow-up. However, asthenospermia continued to be detected in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). In group 2, the patients' symptoms resolved within 5-6 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 10 days; testes atrophied in three patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in one) during the follow-up. Asthenospermia continued in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that treatment with systemic interferon-alpha2B is effective in preventing testicular atrophy when combined with standard symptomatic treatment.
Ku
J H
JH
Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University of Medicine, Chonan, Korea.
Kim
Y H
YH
Jeon
Y S
YS
Lee
N K
NK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009107:Mumps / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009920:Orchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins