Estrogen therapy in a male patient with chronic hepatitis C and irradiation-induced testicular dysfunction

We report an 18-year-old male patient who developed chronic hepatitis C after blood transfusion and had testicular dysfunction after irradiation for a testicular relapse of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia after cessation of maintenance therapy, and the initiation of testosterone replacement therapy at puberty. Concomitant administration of estradiol resulted in a reduction in serum alanine aminotransferase and ferritin levels and hepatic iron concentration and staining after 2 years of estrogen therapy, although interferon therapy was withdrawn because of adverse effects. This observation suggests that endogenous estradiol may play a beneficial role in male patients with chronic hepatitis C.