摘要
We tested the hypothesis that letrozole increases sperm count in non-obstructive azoospermic or cryptozoospermic patients with a testosterone （T）/17-beta-2-oestradiol （E2） ratio 〈 10. Forty-six patients with no chromosomal aberrations were randomized into two groups： 22 received letrozole 2.5 mg per day for 6 months （Group 1：6 azoospermic＋ 16 cryptozoospermic patients）, while 24 received a placebo （Group 2：5 azoospermic＋19 cryptozoospermic patients）. The following data were collected： two semen analyses, clinical history, scrotal Duplex scans, body mass index （BMI）, Y microdeletion, karyotype and cystic fibrosis screens and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, E2, T and prolactin levels. Both before and after letrozole or placebo administration, the patients underwent two semen analyses and hormonal assessments. The differences were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney Utest. The relationships between sperm concentration after letrozole administration with respect to FSH, TIE2 ratio, bilateral testicle volume and BMI before letrozole administration were assessed using multivariate analysis. The side effects were assessed using the chi-square test. Group 1 had sperm concentration （medians： 400-1.290× 10^6 ml^-1; P〈0.01） and motility （medians： class A from 2% to 15%; P〈0.01）, FSH, LH and T significantly increased, while Group 2 did not. E2 levels diminished significantly in Group 1, but not in Group 2. Eight patients in Group 1 demonstrated side effects, whereas no patient side effects were observed in Group 2. The sperm concentration after letrozole administration is inversely related to TIE2, FSH and BMI; a direct relationship emerged between sperm concentration and testicular volume.
We tested the hypothesis that letrozole increases sperm count in non-obstructive azoospermic or cryptozoospermic patients with a testosterone （T）/17-beta-2-oestradiol （E2） ratio 〈 10. Forty-six patients with no chromosomal aberrations were randomized into two groups： 22 received letrozole 2.5 mg per day for 6 months （Group 1：6 azoospermic＋ 16 cryptozoospermic patients）, while 24 received a placebo （Group 2：5 azoospermic＋19 cryptozoospermic patients）. The following data were collected： two semen analyses, clinical history, scrotal Duplex scans, body mass index （BMI）, Y microdeletion, karyotype and cystic fibrosis screens and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, E2, T and prolactin levels. Both before and after letrozole or placebo administration, the patients underwent two semen analyses and hormonal assessments. The differences were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney Utest. The relationships between sperm concentration after letrozole administration with respect to FSH, TIE2 ratio, bilateral testicle volume and BMI before letrozole administration were assessed using multivariate analysis. The side effects were assessed using the chi-square test. Group 1 had sperm concentration （medians： 400-1.290× 10^6 ml^-1; P〈0.01） and motility （medians： class A from 2% to 15%; P〈0.01）, FSH, LH and T significantly increased, while Group 2 did not. E2 levels diminished significantly in Group 1, but not in Group 2. Eight patients in Group 1 demonstrated side effects, whereas no patient side effects were observed in Group 2. The sperm concentration after letrozole administration is inversely related to TIE2, FSH and BMI; a direct relationship emerged between sperm concentration and testicular volume.
