Bone marrow transplantation or hydroxyurea for sickle cell anemia: long-term effects on semen variables and hormone profiles

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2009 Jun;26(4):186-94. doi: 10.1080/07357900902892780.

Abstract

Ten male subjects affected by sickle cell anemia (SCA) were studied to evaluate the long-term effects of therapies on their fertility. Their ages ranged from 18 to 34 years (median: 32 years). Four subjects were treated by hydroxyurea (HU) and 6 by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The median follow-up after HU initiation and HSCT was 10.5 years (range: 8-15 years) and 15.5 years (range: 8-21 years), respectively. Three of the 6 in the HSCT group and two of the 4 in the HU group were azoospermic. One HSCT subject had normal semen and hormone variables, showing that normal fertility can occasionally be expected after transplantation in SCA. The remaining 4 patients (2 HSCT and 2 HU) were oligozoospermic. With regard to HU, semen impairment appears to be related to the duration of treatment. To draw general conclusions, further research with a large number of patients treated since childhood with HU or HSCT is warranted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / drug therapy
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / surgery
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / therapy*
  • Antisickling Agents / adverse effects
  • Antisickling Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Azoospermia / chemically induced
  • Azoospermia / etiology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Hormones / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyurea / adverse effects
  • Hydroxyurea / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Semen / cytology
  • Semen / drug effects
  • Semen / physiology*
  • Sperm Count
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antisickling Agents
  • Hormones
  • Hydroxyurea