Adverse effect of hydroxyurea on spermatogenesis in patients with sickle cell anemia after 6 months of treatment

The prognosis of sickle cell anemia (SCA), initially disastrous in the severe forms of the disease, has greatly improved, leading to increased life expectancy. More than 95% to 99% of the children diagnosed with SCA in developed countries will become young adults, reaching reproductive age and able to consider having children of their own. Hydroxyurea (HU) is the main therapy that has considerably modified the prognosis of SCA, allowing, with good compliance, a substantial decrease in morbidity and mortality and significant improvement in quality of life. Only 3 groups, including our own, have reported the potentially detrimental effect of HU on sperm parameters, when initiated in adult patients. These retrospective studies were performed among as few as 8 participants, without any comparative semen assessment before initiation of HU in 7 participants. On the basis of this observation, a prospective multicenter study was designed to assess the effect of 6 months of HU treatment (representing 2 complete cycles of spermatogenesis) on total sperm count (TSC; millions per ejaculate) in 35 men with severe forms of SCA. Abstract source Full text