Acute hormonal changes following chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease in man.

Eleven men, aged 21 to 60 years, with Hodgkin's disease have been studied before, during, and after chemotherapy. Blood samples were obtained for hormone analyses. In all 11 patients FSH levels rose following chemotherapy, in ten LH and testosterone rose, and in seven estradiol rose above pretreatment values. For each hormone the mean peak post-treatment value was significantly higher than pretreatment values. While there are mechanisms to explain the rise in testosterone and estradiol, the rise in LH in the face of increasing testosterone and estradiol values is unexplained. We propose that feedback regulation of LH by the testis includes a mechanism that is independent of testosterone and estradiol and that this mechanism is damaged during chemotherapy.