Comparative study of hypogonadism in beta-thalassemia intermedia patients with and without hydroxyurea.
BACKGROUND
We aimed at evaluating the effect of long-term use of hydroxyurea (HU) on gonad function in patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia (beta-TI) in Iran.


METHODS
Seventy-five beta-TI patients aged ≥11 years, mean serum ferritin level of <1000 ng/dL in the recent 5 years, and taking HU with a dose of 8-15 mg per kg body weight per day for at least 5 years were randomly selected during 2010 in southern Iran. Thirty-one beta-TI patients without HU were considered as a control group. Serum levels of prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, and estradiol were measured. An expert endocrinologist examined all participants and reviewed their hormonal profile.


RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 22.7 ± 5.1 years (age range of 12-41 years). Overall, 10 patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were detected including seven patients (9.3%) with HU and three patients (9.7%) without HU. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.605).


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that long-term use of HU at a dose of 8-15 mg per kg body weight per day has no effect on gonad function in beta-TI patients. However, further prospective studies and large clinical trials are needed to confirm this subject.
Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Iran. Karimim@sums.ac.ir
Mehran
M
Karimi
Omid R
OR
Zekavat
Sezaneh
S
Haghpanah
Parvin
P
Javad
Zohreh
Z
Karamizadeh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005293:Ferritins; D006918:Hydroxyurea