Hormonal therapy for cryptorchidism with a combination of human chorionic gonadotropin and follicle-stimulating hormone. Success and relapse rate
G. Saggese, P. Ghirri, S. Gabrielli and G. C. Cosenza
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Italy.
We treated 163 patients (Tanner stage I), aged 1 to 11 years, with
cryptorchidism with a combination of 500 to 2000 IU of human chorionic
gonadotropin divided into two intramuscular injections and given weekly and
75 IU of follicle-stimulating hormone once a week for 6 weeks. One hundred
twelve patients had unilateral cryptorchidism. Response to therapy, which
is descent of testes into scrotum, by age group was as follows: 2 (13.3%)
of 15 patients aged 1 to 2 years; 8 (29.6%) of 27 patients aged 3 to 4
years; 13 (38.2%) of 34 patients aged 5 to 6 years; and 18 (50%) of 36
patients aged 7 to 11 years. Fifty-one patients had bilateral
cryptorchidism. Response by age group was as follows: 1 (16.6%) of 6
patients aged 1 to 2 years; 3 (27.2%) of 11 patients aged 3 to 4 years; 6
(37.5%) of 16 (plus unilateral descent in 1 patient) aged 5 to 6 years; and
10 (55.5%) of 18 patients aged 7 to 11 years. The results are comparable
with those obtained with human chorionic gonadotropin treatment alone. A
relapse rate of 9.7% after 18 months of follow-up seemed to be lower
compared with those reported with treatment with gonadotropin-releasing
hormone or treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin alone.
