Male gonadal function in survivors of childhood Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of therapy on long-term gonadal function of young people cured of childhood lymphomas and to asses s whether a prepubertal state during the treatment protects the gonads from chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy late effects. Clinical evaluation, semen analysis, and endocrine status were studied in 20 survivors of childhood ly mphomas. Five patients received Invented Y radiotherapy, 2320 cGy (1550-400 0); all 20 received chemotherapy as follows: MOPP/ABVD protocol, 9 patients ; COMP protocol, 5 patients; MOPP protocol, 3 patients; other protocols, 3 patients. Semen analysis results were as follows: normal values, 4/20 patie nts; oligospermia, 8/20 patients; azoospermia, 8/20 patients; FSH above nor mal level, 10/20 patients; 4/5 who received inverted Y irradiation were azo ospermic and I was severely oligospermic. Treatment damage to the testis in volves tubular germinal elements. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy! combinatio ns that included nitrogen mustard or cyclophosphamide were associated with high rates of oligospermia and azoospermia. MOPP/ABVD combination did not h ave a significant better outcome of sperm counts compared to MOPP alone. Ag e at chemotherapy did not correlate with the sperm count; hence a prepubert al state did not protect the gonad from the late effects of treatment.