Sexual function in patients with metastatic midgut carcinoid tumours.
BACKGROUND
Sexual dysfunction is a poorly studied aspect of quality of life in patients with midgut carcinoid tumours. We investigated whether carcinoid patients experience sexual problems.


METHODS
Patients with metastatic midgut carcinoid tumours filled in a validated questionnaire for sexual dysfunction. The prevalence of dysfunction on the subscales arousal, erection, lubrication, orgasm and dyspareunia was compared to a Dutch reference population. Plasma concentration of gonadal hormones, tryptophan and urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid concentrations were measured.


RESULTS
43 patients were studied, 27 men and 16 women. Sexual dysfunction was present in 29.6% of men and 6.3% of women. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction on the different subscales did not differ from the reference population. Patients with a sexual dysfunction had, compared to those without a sexual dysfunction, a longer duration of disease, 95.3 months (range 5.4-314.5) versus 18.6 months (range 0.6-167.9) (p = 0.024), lower plasma tryptophan concentration (+/-SD) of 31.5 +/- 16.1 and 48.9 +/- 14.5 micromol/l (p = 0.031), and more often used interferon-alpha, 50% of patients versus 10.5% of patients (p = 0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with metastatic midgut carcinoid tumours do not experience sexual problems more often than a reference population. Male patients with sexual dysfunction are characterised by more long-standing disease and lower tryptophan concentration.
van der Horst-Schrivers
Anouk N A
AN
Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.n.a.van.der.horst@int.umcg.nl
van Ieperen
Ellen
E
Wymenga
A N Machteld
AN
Boezen
H Marike
HM
Weijmar-Schultz
Willibrord C M
WC
Kema
Ido P
IP
Meijer
Wim G
WG
de Herder
Wouter W
WW
Willemse
Pax H B
PH
Links
Thera P
TP
de Vries
Elisabeth G E
EG
D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000150:complications*