Early development of the metabolic syndrome after chemotherapy for testicular cancer

The metabolic syndrome (MS) might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in testicular cancer (TC) survivors. We investigated its prevalence, development, vascular implications, and the role of gonadal function. TC survivors treated with chemotherapy and follow-up ≥3 years (N = 370, study I) were retrospectively evaluated for the development of cardiovascular risk factors. A subgroup followed 3–20 years (N = 173, study II) was compared with controls (N = 1085) for MS prevalence and evaluated for vascular function. In TC survivors (study I), 24% developed overweight, 24% hypercholesterolemia, and 30% hypertension, after median follow-up of 1.7, 0.9, and 5.1 years, respectively. At the median follow-up of 5 years (study II), 25% of survivors have the MS {odds ratio (OR) 2.2, [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–3.3] compared with controls}. Survivors with MS have features of inflammation and prothrombotic state, increased carotid artery intima-media thickness. Survivors with testosterone levels