[Anemia in patients with malignant testicular tumors]

Changes in erythropoiesis were studied in 94 patients with testicular germ cell tumours (24 seminoma, 70 nonseminomatous tumours). Additionally ferrokinetic studies with 59Fe were performed in 29 patients with proven metastases. Only 2 of 37 tumour-free patients sustained moderate anemia after recess of primary therapy (2 seminoma, after X-ray-irradiation). In patients with disseminated tumour disease the anemia and the reduction of 59Fe-utilisation correlated positively with the elevation of serum estradiol concentrations, whereas no correlation could be established with testosterone serum levels.