Etretinateのヒト精子形成能におよぼす影響

Abstract

治療量のetretinateは3ヵ月までの投与および観察では乾癬患者の造精機能に障害を与えない

Nine adult men with psoriasis were treated orally with 50-75 mg/day aromatic retinoid, etretinate for more than 3 months. Semen analyses as well as measurement of serum levels of LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol were performed before and every month during the therapy for 3 months or more in order to study the effects of the drug on male reproductive function. Average sperm concentration at 2 months after the treatment by the drug was higher than the untreated value, although this was statistically not significant due to greater variations. Decrease in sperm count during the therapy was observed only in one patient. Sperm concentration of this case, however, was recovered and increased to higher levels after 6 months on the drug. No change was found in other semen parameters including sperm morphology. All hormone levels remained unchanged except for prolactin which increased. We conclude that etretinate did not cause suppression of spermatogenesis nor impairment of sperm motility or morphology as far as shown by the present observation periods.