Androgen Therapy for Refractory Anemia: Report of a Case Associated With Thymoma

Case Reports1 November 1960ANDROGEN THERAPY FOR REFRACTORY ANEMIA: REPORT OF A CASE ASSOCIATED WITH THYMOMAHENRY J. LEHNHOFF JR., M.D., F.A.C.P.HENRY J. LEHNHOFF JR., M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-53-5-1059 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptPatients receiving androgen therapy for metastatic carcinoma of the breast have been observed to show increased erythropoietic activity of a degree which may raise subnormal blood counts to normal or polycythemic levels. Bone marrow examination in these patients revealed increased erythropoietic activity, although no blood transfusions or hematinics were administered. The medication employed has been testosterone proprionate, given intramuscularly in doses of 50 to 100 mg. three times a week, or in equivalent oral doses. The phenomenon occurs in 16 to 64% of the patients treated. Why some patients respond and some do not is not known. The concomitant administration...Bibliography1. KennedyGilbertson JAS: Increased erythropoiesis induced by androgenichormone therapy, New England J. Med. 256: 719, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. SteinCarrier KFE: Changes in erythrocytes of hamsters following castration, splenectomy and subsequent liver, iron and testosterone injections, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. and Med. 60: 313, 1945. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. TabereDavisDomm EDELV: Effect of sex hormones on erythrocyte number in blood of domestic fowl, Am. J. Physiol. 138: 479, 1944. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. FinkelsteinGordonCharipper GASHA: Effect of sex hormones on anemia induced by hemorrhage in rat, Endocrinology 35: 267, 1944. CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. HawkinsSpeckLeonard WWEVG: Variation of hemoglobin level with age and sex, Blood 9: 999, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Dameshek W: Stress erythrocytosis, Blood 8: 282, 1953. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. WatkinsonMcMenemeyEvans GWHG: Hypopituitarism, hypogonadism, and anemia: treated with testosterone, Lancet 1: 631, 1947. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. McCullaghJones APTR: Note on effect of certain androgens upon red blood cell count and upon glucose tolerance, Cleveland Clin. Quart. 8: 79, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. ThompsonWinebaum RFJC: Thymic tumor, Am. J. Clin. Path. 25: 761, 1955. MedlineGoogle Scholar10. ChalmersBoheimer JMK: Anemia in thymoma, Brit. M. J. 2: 1514, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. RossFinchStreetStrieder JFSCRBJW: Benign thymoma and refractory anemia, Blood 9: 935, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. BayrdBernatz EDPE: Benign thymoma and agenesis of erythrocytes, J. A. M. A. 163: 723, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Omaha, Nebraska*Received for publication March 20, 1959.Presented at the Regional Meeting of The American College of Physicians, Omaha, Nebraska, March 7, 1959.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Henry J. Lehnhoff, Jr., M.D., 720 Doctors Building, Farnam at Forty-fourth Street, Omaha 31, Nebraska. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byIs androgen substitution necessary in hypogonadal patients when they are treated with chemotherapy for malignant diseases?Case Report: Pure Red Blood Cell Aplasia Complicating Chronic Lymphatic LeukemiaThe Effect of Androstanes on Granulopoiesis in Vitro and in VivoAndrogens and ErythropoiesisThymoma and cancerThymoma associated with pancytopenia and hypogammaglobulinemiaBibliographyThymoma associated with pure red-cell agenesis.Review of literature and report of 4 casesA Case of Pure Red-Cell Aplasia Successfully Treated with CobaltStimulation of Erythropoiesis by Androgenic HormonesB. J. KENNEDY, M.D., F.A.C.P.Erythrocyte Aplasia and Hypogammaglobulinemia Response to Steroids in a Young AdultJOSEPH A. LINSK, M.D., CLIFFORD K. MURRAY, M.D., F.A.C.P. 1 November 1960Volume 53, Issue 5Page: 1059-1064KeywordsAndrogensAnemiaBlood transfusionBone marrowGlomerulonephritisHemoglobinHormonesOsteoporosisTestosteroneThymoma Issue Published: 1 November 1960 PDF downloadLoading ...