title: Cotreatment with growth hormone for induction of spermatogenesis in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cobbold Laboratories, Medical Unit University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shoham
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lahlou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006062:Gonadotropins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D008596:Menotropins; D013006:Growth Hormone