The use of androgens in the treatment of diseases of the hematopoietic system

Abstract

Stimulation of erythropoiesis has been induced in patients by the administration of massive doses of androgenic hormones. There is an increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit, reticulocytosis, increase in red blood cell mass, development of a normoblastic hyperplasia of the bone marrow, and polycythemia may occur. The extensive studies of the influence of the endocrine glands on the formed elements of the blood in animals and man demonstrate the relationship of erythropoiesis and the androgenic hormone.

Because of the effect of androgenic hormones on hematopoiesis, these hormones have been employed in the treatment of a variety of hematopoietic diseases. Improvements have been noted in myelofibrosis, chronic lymphatic leukemia, aplastic anemia, and specific refractory anemias. The androgens have been employed as adjuvant therapy to stimulate bone marrow during the chemotherapy of a variety of neoplastic diseases. The androgenic hormones provide a specific treatment as well as an adjuvant therapy in the management of hematological abnormalities.