Low serum inhibin B levels as a marker of testicular damage after treatment for a childhood malignancy.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of inhibin B and the determination of its concentration to diagnose testicular damage after treatment for a childhood malignancy. Thirty-seven males treated for Hodgkin disease (n = 11) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 26) were examined at a mean age of 16.9+/-2.9 years. Mean age at the stop of therapy was 11.3+/-3.0 years and in most cases the chemotherapy regimen included gonadal damaging alkylating agents. Thirty-three normal males (mean age 17.9+/-4.1 years) were examined as controls. Serum samples were collected for determination of inhibin B, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Median inhibin values were significantly lower in patients than in controls (96.0 vs. 225.0 pg/ml, P<0.0001) and a strong negative correlation was found between inhibin B and FSH (r = -0.86, P<0.0001), a weak correlation with LH (r = -0.32, P<0.05) and no correlation with testosterone. In post-pubertal patients (i.e., over 16 years) a positive correlation was found between testicular size and inhibin level (r = 0.53, P<0.05), but not between testicular size and testosterone level. Pathological low levels (values that differed by more than 2 SD from the mean value of control subjects) were found in 20 patients for inhibin B and 8 for testosterone (P<0.01) and pathological high values in 19 patients for FSH and 3 for LH.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the role that inhibin B plays in the regulation of FSH secretion and provides further evidence of the utility of its evaluation as a direct indicator of male gonadal dysfunction.
Cicognani
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic I, University of Bologna, Italy. ped1@alma.unibo.it
Cacciari
E
E
Pasini
A
A
Burnelli
R
R
De Iasio
R
R
Pirazzoli
P
P
Paolucci
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone