Pituitary and testicular hormonal function after treatment for germ cell tumours.

Overview

The endocrine effects of cisplatin based chemotherapy in patients with germ cell tumours were studied in twenty-two patients 9+ to 24+ months after completing treatment. The mean basal FSH and stimulated LH and FSH levels were found to be elevated in treated patients when compared to untreated controls. Serum testosterone levels in treated patients were similar to those in untreated controls. Mean basal LH and FSH levels tended to return toward normal in those patients treated more than 18 months prior to study, and were lower in patients less than 25 years of age at the time of treatment when compared to those aged over 25. These data demonstrate that compensated hypogonadism is common after treatment for metastatic germ cell tumours, that young patients appear to be more resistant to the effects of cisplatin based chemotherapy, and that these effects tend to recover with time.