Gonadotropin treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadal adolescents.
Testosterone substitution, needed for normal physical development in male hypogonadal adolescents, does not induce testicular growth. We treated 37 hypogonadal adolescents with gonadotropins (hCG/hMG), to obtain complete virilization during the first two years of treatment, to avoid psychological sequellae and to allow normal sexual development. Testicular volume increased significantly during therapy (from 1.98 +/- 1.2 to 9 +/- 3.3 ml), while testosterone rose from 0.26 +/- 0.04 to 5.3 +/- 0.8 ng/ml, with worse results in adolescents with cryptorchidism. hCG/hMG treatment had a better outcome than testosterone during the induction of puberty, avoiding psychological problems induced by atrophic testes. Further long term studies are necessary to evaluate whether early hCG/hMG treatment facilitates later spermatogenesis even in patients with cryptorchidism.
Bouvattier
C
C
Pediatric Endocrinology, Hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul, Paris, France.
Tauber
M
M
Jouret
B
B
Chaussain
J L
JL
Rochiccioli
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D008596:Menotropins