Effectiveness and limitations of the use of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist leuprolide acetate in the diagnosis of delayed puberty in males.
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist leuprolide acetate in distinguishing gonadotropin deficiency from delayed puberty, a single subcutaneous dose of 20 micrograms/kg of leuprolide acetate was administered at 07.00 h to 14 patients with constitutionally delayed puberty and to 8 gonadotropin-deficient subjects, and serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels were determined at baseline and 1,2,3,6,12, and 24 h thereafter. The increase in gonadotropin and testosterone levels was significant in patients with delayed puberty, so that the mean peak luteinizing hormone and to a lesser degree the mean peak testosterone levels clearly differentiated normally delayed from gonadotropin-deficient puberty. However, when the peak gonadotropin and testosterone concentrations were analyzed individually, there was a considerable overlap between the two groups of males, limiting the usefulness of this test.
Lanes
R
R
Unidad de Endocrinología Pediatrica, Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, Venezuela.
Gunczler
P
P
Osuna
J A
JA
Palacios
A
A
Carrillo
E
E
Ramirez
X
X
Garcia
C
C
Paoli
M
M
Villaroel
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D006062:Gonadotropins; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide