Cotreatment with growth hormone for induction of spermatogenesis in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
OBJECTIVE
To induce spermatogenesis by cotreatment with growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin therapy in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism who had failed to respond adequately to conventional treatment.


METHODS
Cotreatment with GH (4 IU) and human menopausal gonadotropin, 150 IU of follicle-stimulating hormone and 150 IU of luteinizing hormone (LH), three times a week, and human chorionic gonadotropin, 2,500 IU, two times a week for 24 weeks after unsuccessful treatment for 12 weeks with either pulsatile LH-releasing hormone or gonadotropins.


METHODS
Specialist Reproductive Endocrine Unit.


METHODS
Seven patients, four of whom had failed to respond adequately to the conventional treatment.


METHODS
Serum testosterone (T), estradiol, and sperm production, testicular and semen volume, and serum insulin-like growth factor-I and inhibin concentrations.


RESULTS
Of the four patients who received cotreatment with GH, three increased T secretion (greater than 11 nmol/L) within a relatively short period of time, two produced adequate amount of sperm (13 and 12 x 10(6)/mL), and one of them impregnated his wife. One patient did not respond.


CONCLUSIONS
The results offer a new approach to the problem of induction of spermatogenesis in patients who respond poorly to conventional treatment because cotreatment with GH enhanced T secretion and sperm production in a relatively short period of time.
Shoham
Z
Z
Cobbold Laboratories, Medical Unit University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Conway
G S
GS
Ostergaard
H
H
Lahlou
N
N
Bouchard
P
P
Jacobs
H S
HS
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006062:Gonadotropins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D008596:Menotropins; D013006:Growth Hormone