Radiotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Radiotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects. | ||||||||
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Anti-müllerian hormone as a marker of ovarian function in women after chemotherapy and radiotherapy for haematological malignancies.Lie Fong S, Lugtenburg PJ, Schipper I, Themmen AP, de Jong FH, Sonneveld P, Laven JS Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Room Hs-422K, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands. s.liefong@erasmusmc.nl BACKGROUND: In female cancer survivors, the accelerated loss of primordial follicles as a result of gonadal damage may lead to premature ovarian failure (POF). However, the extent of the damage is unpredictable. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) constitutes a sensitive marker of ovarian reserve. Serum AMH levels were measured to assess sub-clinical ovarian damage in patients treated with gonadotoxic therapy. METHODS: In 25 patients with haematological malignancies, serum AMH concentrations were measured prior to and after cancer therapy and were compared with normo-ovulatory controls. RESULTS: In all patients, AMH concentrations were lower than controls prior to treatment. Thirteen patients were treated with multi-drug chemotherapy. Although in most patients treated with chemotherapy menstrual cyclicity was restored, median serum AMH levels were lower than in controls. Twelve patients had stem cell transplantation (SCT) after total body irradiation. They all developed POF and their serum AMH concentrations were undetectable. CONCLUSIONS: Female cancer survivors treated with SCT all developed POF. Hence, in these patients fertility preservation should be considered. In patients treated with chemotherapy, ovarian reserve seems to be compromised as well. Published 29 February 2008 in Hum Reprod, 23(3): 674-8.
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