title: Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin therapy can improve sensitivity to exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone in patients with secondary amenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of supplementing an ovulation induction regimen of highly purified FSH with LH activity in the form of low-dose hCG therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Reproductive Endocrinology Center at the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A woman with weight-related secondary hypogonadotropic amenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient was treated first with highly purified FSH alone and then received highly purified FSH in combination with low-dose hCG therapy (50 IU/d).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pelvic ultrasound examinations, serum E2 levels, duration of treatment, total dose of highly purified FSH, and outcome of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concomitant administration of low-dose hCG and highly purified FSH markedly reduced the duration of treatment and the dose of highly purified FSH, and resulted in a quadruplet pregnancy in a patient in whom several previous ovulation induction procedures had been unsuccessful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of an ovulation induction regimen with an agent that has LH activity can enhance FSH-induced folliculogenesis and markedly reduce costs in women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. However, this increased response can be associated with complications such as multiple gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology Center, University of Bologna, Italy. filicori@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filicori
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Cognigni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taraborrelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spettoli
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ciampaglia
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: de Fatis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone