Hodgkin lymphoma and female fertility: a multicenter study in women treated with ABVD

Abstract

Preservation of fertility has become a growing concern in young females with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). However, the rate of pregnancy after the current most frequently prescribed ABVD chemotherapy for HL has rarely been studied. We aimed to determine the impact of ABVD on the fertility of women treated for HL. A non-interventional, multicentric study of female patients of child-bearing age with HL treated. Two healthy apparied women non exposed at chemotherapy (our controls) were assigned for each patient. Fertility was assessed by the number of pregnancies and births after HL treatment. Sixty-seven patients were included. The median age at diagnosis was 24.4 years (16-43). Hodgkin lymphoma was localized disease for 68.7%. 53.7% of all the patients started at least one pregnancy after treatment versus 54.5% of the controls (p=0.92). 81% of patients who desired children had at least one pregnancy. Patients treated with ABVD did not have a longer median time to pregnancy (4.8 years in the group of patients and 6.8 years for controls). Across patients, there has been 58 pregnancies and 48 births (ratio 1.2) and for control cohort, 136 pregnancies and 104 births (ratio 1.3). No increase in obstetric or neonatal complications has been reported in HL in our study. The number of pregnancies, births and the time to start a pregnancy in young women treated with ABVD for HL is not different to that of controls. Therefore, female with HL and treated by ABVD should be reassured in regards to fertility.