Induction of puberty in a patient with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism by pulsatile, subcutaneous infusions of LH-RH.
Following treatment with nocturnal, pulsatile, s.c. infusions of LH-RH (50 micrograms/night) for nine nights a twenty-year-old patient with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism presented a markedly enhanced, biphasic secretion of LH during an LH-RH infusion test (200 micrograms LH-RH i.v., t = 4 hours) indicating a hypothalamic defect and a deficiency in endogenous LH-RH production. Puberty was subsequently initiated in this patient within eight weeks of therapy with s.c. pulsatile LH-RH. These results confirm that intermittent application of LH-RH induces pituitary sensitization resulting in an enhanced response to exogenous LH-RH. This will help to select patients for prolonged therapy with intermittent s.c. LH-RH for the initiation of puberty.
D000328:Adult; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone