Success and Relapse Rate after Treatment of Cryptorchidism with Intranasal LHRH

Abstract

In a collaborative study 119 cryptorchid prepubertal children with 67 unilaterally and 104 bilaterally undescended testes were treated for four weeks with intranasal LHRH 1.2 mg daily. The age range was 1 1/12 to 12 3/12 years with a median of 3 10/12 years. Complete descent was observed in 64 testes (37%) and partial descent in another 47 testes (27%). Positive responders were equally distributed in all age groups. At a follow-up of 57 patients at least six months after the end of treatment, 40% of the previously fully descended testes were found at higher locations, more than half at the scrotal neck. We conclude that LHRH therapy for cryptorchidism is effective and without any major side-effects. It may be particularly useful in children of one to three years of age where hCG is practically useless and surgical repair is the only alternative to date. However, efforts should be directed towards elaboration of treatment schedules which would avoid the high relapse rate.