Andreas K Øvlisen1,2, Lasse H Jakobsen1,2, Sandra Eloranta3, Kristian H Kragholm4,5, Martin Hutchings6, Henrik Frederiksen7, Peter Kamper8, Rasmus Bo Dahl-Sørensen9, Danny Stoltenberg10, Caroline E Weibull3, Joshua P Entrop3, Ingrid Glimelius3,11, Karin E Smedby3,12, Christian Torp-Pedersen3,13, Marianne T Severinsen1,2,14, Tarec C El-Galaly1,2,14. 1. Department of Hematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. 2. Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. 3. Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Unit of Clinical Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. 5. Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. 6. Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. 7. Department of Hematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. 8. Department of Hematology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. 9. Department of Hematology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark. 10. Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark. 11. Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Unit of Oncology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 12. Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden. 13. Department of Cardiology, Nordsjællands Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark. 14. Clinical Cancer Research Center, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The majority of young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are cured, but chemotherapy-induced infertility can have profound psychosocial consequences. Providing data on parenthood rates and use of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) after contemporary HL treatment is important for patient counseling and survivorship care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All Danish patients with HL diagnosed during 2000-2015 at the ages 18-40 years who achieved remission after first-line therapy were included and matched on age, sex, and parenthood status to five random persons from the general population. Parenthood rates were defined as the rate of first live birth per 1,000 person years, starting 9 months after HL diagnosis. Nationwide birth and patient registers were used to capture parenthood outcomes and ARTs use. RESULTS: A total of 793 HL survivors and 3,965 comparators were included (median follow-up 8.7 years). Similar parenthood rates were observed for male and female HL survivors when compared with matched comparators (56.2 v 57.1; P = .871 for males and 63.8 v 61.2; P = .672 for females). For male HL survivors, BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) therapy was associated with lower parenthood rates as compared to the matched comparators (28.1 v 60.8; P = .020). Live birth after ARTs were more common for HL survivors than for comparators (males 21.6% v 6.3%; P < .001; females 13.6% v 5.5%; P = .001). There were no differences in gestational age, Apgar score, or newborn measurements between HL survivors and matched comparators. CONCLUSION: The parenthood rates for HL survivors who have not experienced relapse were generally similar to the general population. However, ARTs were used more often before the first live birth in HL survivors, which is relevant information when discussing possible long-term side effects and fertility-preserving treatment options.
PURPOSE: The majority of young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are cured, but chemotherapy-induced infertility can have profound psychosocial consequences. Providing data on parenthood rates and use of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) after contemporary HL treatment is important for patient counseling and survivorship care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All Danish patients with HL diagnosed during 2000-2015 at the ages 18-40 years who achieved remission after first-line therapy were included and matched on age, sex, and parenthood status to five random persons from the general population. Parenthood rates were defined as the rate of first live birth per 1,000 person years, starting 9 months after HL diagnosis. Nationwide birth and patient registers were used to capture parenthood outcomes and ARTs use. RESULTS: A total of 793 HL survivors and 3,965 comparators were included (median follow-up 8.7 years). Similar parenthood rates were observed for male and female HL survivors when compared with matched comparators (56.2 v 57.1; P = .871 for males and 63.8 v 61.2; P = .672 for females). For male HL survivors, BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) therapy was associated with lower parenthood rates as compared to the matched comparators (28.1 v 60.8; P = .020). Live birth after ARTs were more common for HL survivors than for comparators (males 21.6% v 6.3%; P < .001; females 13.6% v 5.5%; P = .001). There were no differences in gestational age, Apgar score, or newborn measurements between HL survivors and matched comparators. CONCLUSION: The parenthood rates for HL survivors who have not experienced relapse were generally similar to the general population. However, ARTs were used more often before the first live birth in HL survivors, which is relevant information when discussing possible long-term side effects and fertility-preserving treatment options.