8 3 INJECTIONS OF HCG ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS 10 INJECTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF GRYPTOCHIDISM

Abstract

Treatment of cryptorchidism with GnRH preparations has some disadvantages-it requires daily applications over 4 weeks and involves the uncertainty of parents' cooperation. HCG therapy (i.m.) is safer but 10 injections according to the IHF schedule can no longer be accepted. That's why in an alternative study which included 309 boys with cryptorchidism (158 unilateral, 151 bilateral), a HCG schedule (I)with 3 HCG i.m. injections (1-3 yrs=3×1000IU; 3-6 yrs=3×1500IU, 6-10 yrs =3×3000IU, 10-13=3×5000IU; intervals=7-10days, n=146) and the IHF schedule (II) with 10 inj. in age-dependent dosages (n=146) were compared. Complete descent was seen in 46/151 (30.5%) testes (abdominal, inguinal retention and preacrotal testes) under I and 80/203 testes (39.4%) under II (p=n.s.) Partial descent occured in 41% of the cases under I and 40.4% under II. In patients with abdominal and inguinal retention the positive results were comparable in the age groups 1-3 (n=124) and 3-6yrs (n=101), but in the age group 6-13yrs (n=93) 10 inj. were more effective (p < 0.05). Follow-up results 2-9 months after therapy were nearly identically. Concl.:HCG therapy with 3 HCG inject. is a safe alternative procedure to the GnRH therapy.