Short-term effects of treatment with simvastatin on testicular function in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia

✍ Scribed by K. Purvis; A. Tollefsrud; H. Rui; E. Haug; J. Norseth; L. Viksmoen; L. Ose; H. Lund

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 415 KB
• Volume: 42
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0031-6970
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00314921

✦ Synopsis

The effects of simvastatin 40 mg per day for 14 weeks on the pituitary-testis axis of 19 men with familial hypercholesterolaemia have been examined in a single-blind study. Simvastatin significantly reduced serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides by 45% and 30%, respectively, and significantly increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 15%. The alterations, which were stable 4 weeks after the start of treatment, were not associated with any significant change in sperm quality, the seminal plasma concentrations of various sex gland products (prostate-specific acid phosphatase, polyamines, citrate, fructose, alpha-glucosidase), or the serum concentrations of cortisol, testosterone, LH, FSH, or prolactin. It is concluded that a short-term reduction in circulating LDL-cholesterol has no marked effect on testicular function or sperm quality.