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Erectile dysfunction in successfully treated lymphoma patients

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Abstract

Background

Information on male potency in lymphoma survivors is insufficient. In this study, we assessed male sexual function and serum gonadotropins in successfully treated lymphoma patients.

Materials and methods

Fifty-nine patients treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) or non-HL (NHL) with chemotherapy ± radiotherapy were included in the study.

Results

The mean age (±standard deviation) of the patients was 40.2 ± 11.0 (range, 18–55 years). Thirty-eight (64.4%) had HL and 21 (35.6%) NHL. According to the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, 61.0% had some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED; IIEF score < 26): 33.9% had mild ED (IIEF score 17–25), 15.2% moderate ED (IIEF score 11–16), and 11.9% severe ED (IIEF score 6–10). Age distribution was similar in patients with ED and those with normal erectile function. Presence of ED and its grade were not different between HL and NHL patients. Nine (18.4%) of 49 patients had an elevated follicle-stimulating hormone, 7 (14.2%) had elevated luteinizing hormone, and 3 (6.1%) had decreased testosterone levels. These hormonal abnormalities did not affect the presence of ED and its severity.

Conclusions

Overall, 61.0% of men in our study had ED according to IIEF. Clinicians should be aware of this problem in lymphoma survivors and offer these patients adequate treatment options.

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Acknowledgments

The results of this study were presented in part at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Atlanta, GA, 2–6 June 2006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Hacettepe University, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey

    Sercan Aksoy, Hakan Harputluoglu, Saadettin Kilickap, Murat Dincer, Omer Dizdar, Mustafa Erman & Ismail Celik

  2. Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Akdogan & Haluk Ozen

Authors
  1. Sercan Aksoy
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  2. Hakan Harputluoglu
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  3. Saadettin Kilickap
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  4. Murat Dincer
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  5. Omer Dizdar
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  6. Bulent Akdogan
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  7. Haluk Ozen
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  8. Mustafa Erman
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  9. Ismail Celik
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Correspondence to Sercan Aksoy.

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Aksoy, S., Harputluoglu, H., Kilickap, S. et al. Erectile dysfunction in successfully treated lymphoma patients. Support Care Cancer 16, 291–297 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0307-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0307-y

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