Premium
The preventive effect of systemic treatment with interferon‐α2B for infertility from mumps orchitis
Author(s) -
Ja Hyeon Ku,
Y. H. Kim,
Youn Soo Jeon,
N. K. Lee
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1999.00273.x
Subject(s) - testicular atrophy , medicine , orchitis , atrophy , mumps virus , infertility , interferon , urology , surgery , gastroenterology , immunology , virus , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Objective To evaluate the effect of interferon‐α2B on mumps orchitis, often caused by postpubertal mumps and which can result in permanent testicular atrophy. Patients and methods The study included 21 patients with mumps orchitis, treated between May 1990 and June 1997. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups: in group 1, 13 patients received therapy with interferon‐α2B (3×10 6 IU per day) and group 2 did not, acting as controls. All were evaluated by measurements of testis size, mumps virus titre, hormone level and semen analysis. Results In group 1, the patients’ symptoms resolved within 2–3 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 11 days; there was no testicular atrophy in any patient during the follow‐up. However, asthenospermia continued to be detected in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). In group 2, the patients’ symptoms resolved within 5–6 days and the volume of the testes returned to normal within 10 days; testes atrophied in three patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in one) during the follow‐up. Asthenospermia continued in four patients (unilateral in two, bilateral in two). Conclusion These results suggest that treatment with systemic interferon‐α2B is effective in preventing testicular atrophy when combined with standard symptomatic treatment.