Male gonadal function before and after chemotherapy in prepubertal boys

We evaluated gonadal function in twenty prepubertal boys (6.87 +/- 3.84 years old) at diagnosis and 2.5 +/- 1.6 years after treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We measured serum levels of inhibin B (RIA method), testosterone, FSH, LH (immunoenzymatic methods) and compared the results with controls (31 healthy boys in prepubertal stage).

Serum inhibin B levels were lower at diagnosis (55.81 ng/ml +/- 33.74), comparing to respective values in the controls (105.89 ng/ml +/- 46.64), p<0.0002. The values of inhibin B slightly augmented after 2.5 +/- 1.6 years from chemotherapy (79.47 ng/ml +/- 47.39), p<0.06 but remained lower than those in the controls (p<0.07). We did not find any differences in FSH, LH or testosterone values, before and after chemotherapy, comparing to respective values in the controls. In conclusion, haematological malignancy and its treatment influence gonadal function before puberty with a possibility of recovery. During this period, inhibin B could be used as a sensitive indicator of testicular function.