title: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment for the prevention of treatment-related ovarian failure and infertility in women of reproductive age with Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective study on treatment-related ovarian failure in 61 women with Hodgkin lymphoma who were under treatment from 1994 to 2006. To minimize the risk of treatment-related gonadotoxicity, triptorelin (Decapeptyl), a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa), was administered monthly. All patients were treated with frontline polychemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. Seven refractory or relapsed patients received salvage treatment, and six of these patients further received peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Fifty patients (82%) recovered regular menses, four patients (6%) reported menstrual abnormalities, and seven patients (12%) who were under salvage treatment became amenorrheic. We found a clear correlation between age at the time of treatment, advanced disease, cumulative therapeutic load and ovarian failure. After the completion of treatment, 13 patients who attempted conception conceived. GnRHa may preclude ovarian damage and infertility in young women receiving frontline polychemotherapy alone or in combination with supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy. In refractory or relapsed patients, GnRHa does not seem to be very effective, and further experimental approaches are required for fertility preservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Civic Hospital, via Fonte Romana, Pescara, Italy. simonafalorio@libero.it
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falorio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angrilli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fioritoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008186:Luteolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008186:Luteolytic Agents; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate