A review and meta-analysis of hormonal treatment of cryptorchidism.

Abstract

To assess the effect of LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) and hCG in the treatment of cryptorchidism, 33 articles published in English between 1958-1990 were analyzed. Altogether, 3282 boys with 4524 undescended testes were included in the analysis; 872 boys with 1174 undescended testes were treated in randomized trials. The meta-analysis showed LHRH to be more effective than placebo; the risk ratio was 3.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.83-5.64] and 2.57 (95% CI, 1.39-4.74) in trials excluding retractile testes, respectively. In the combined randomized trials, the success rate with LHRH was 21% (95% CI, 18-24%), that with hCG was 19% (95% CI, 13-25%), and that with placebo was 4% (95% CI, 2-6%). The effect of the hormonal treatment was overestimated in nonrandomized trials. In conclusion, LHRH is effective in the treatment of cryptorchidism, and hCG is more effective than placebo, but data about the effect are scanty.

• Authors: S Pyörälä, N P Huttunen, M Uhari
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 80 Issue 9 Pg. 2795-9 (Sep 1995) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 7673426 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)

Chemical References

• Chorionic Gonadotropin
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

Topics

• Aging (physiology)
• Chorionic Gonadotropin (therapeutic use)
• Cryptorchidism (drug therapy)
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Odds Ratio
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Recurrence
• Treatment Outcome