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Association between terbinafine hydrochloride and sperm DNA fragmentation - case report
Andressa Moreira Giusti1, Gabriela Reif1, Danilo Modafaris Araújo1
1Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Itajaí - SC, 88302-901, Brazil.
JBRA Assisted Reproduction
|November 9, 2021
Summary
Long-term terbinafine hydrochloride use may impact male fertility by increasing sperm DNA fragmentation. Abstinence period and drug cessation normalized sperm DNA integrity in a case study.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Terbinafine hydrochloride is a widely used antifungal agent.
- Male fertility is crucial for reproductive health.
- Sperm DNA fragmentation is a marker of sperm quality.
Observation:
- A 20-year-old male patient with normozoospermia presented with 99% sperm DNA fragmentation.
- The patient had been using terbinafine hydrochloride for one year to treat a toenail infection.
- Initial high fragmentation was attributed to prolonged abstinence.
Findings:
- Subsequent analysis revealed a potential association between terbinafine hydrochloride treatment and high sperm DNA fragmentation.
- Reducing abstinence to 2 days and discontinuing the antifungal medication normalized sperm DNA fragmentation to 15%.
- This suggests terbinafine hydrochloride may negatively affect sperm DNA integrity.
Implications:
- Terbinafine hydrochloride may pose a risk to male fertility, specifically impacting sperm DNA integrity.
- Further research is warranted to confirm this link and elucidate the mechanism of DNA alteration.
- This finding could inform clinical practice regarding antifungal prescriptions in men seeking fertility treatment.
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