title: [Induction of puberty and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics in males with thalassemia major].
abstract: 18 males with beta-thalassaemia major were studied; mean age was 17.6 flAF 4.3, 8 of 18 males evaluated were prepubertal (Tanner 1), 5 were early and mid pubertal (Tanner 2-3) and 5 were full pubertal (Tanner 5). All patients (pts) underwent GnRH test and 61% showed positive response. 8 pts. were treated with hCG; 2 were azoospermic, 6 were aspermic. The starting dose was 1000 IU twice weekly; dose adjustments were made basing on testosterone levels and clinical features. Clinical examination, testosterone assays, semen analysis were performed every 3 months during the treatment period. Therapy was started 18-48 months ago and it is still in progress. Within 12 months of treatment 4 pts progressed to Tanner stage 4, 3 pts to Tanner stage 5, 1 showed no response. Semen analysis showed an improvement in 6 pts: after 12 months of therapy 1 pts was aspermic, 5 were azoospermic, 1 was oligozoospermic. Our data showed that hCG administration is effective in inducing and maintaining secondary sexual character.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Urologia, Ospedale di Desio.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Della Morte
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fadini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mignini-Renzini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boneschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catanzaro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone
vernacular_title: Induzione della pubertà e mantenimento delle caratteristiche sessuali secondarie in maschi portatori di talassemia major.