[Effect of androgen on erythropoietin in patients with hypogonadism].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the change of erythropoietin (EPO) in patients of hypogonadism who received androgen replacement treatment and explore the mechanism of androgen-induced increase of red blood cells and haemoglobin.


METHODS
Eight patients with Klinefelter's syndrome, divided into two groups, received TU intramuscular injections of 500 mg or 1000 mg dose, respectively. After three months, seven patients received the second injection of crossover dose. Testosterone levels in serum were measured with RIA before and after the injections treatment. RBC count, impacted volume of blood cells and haemoglobin concentration were measured before treatment and 4, 8 weeks after treatment. At the same interval, EPO levels were measured with ELISA method.


RESULTS
Development of the secondary sex characters was improved in all patients after the TU injection. Serum testosterone levels raised significantly and reached the peak one week after the injections. Effective level of testosterone lasted for over 6 weeks. RBC count, impacted volume of blood cells and haemoglobin increased at different degrees after TU injections, but these changes were not significant in statistic(P < 0.05). The increased levels remained for 8 weeks. EPO levels were elevated significantly (P < 0.01 or 0.05) after the TU injection(Pbat > 0.05). The second injection could still make the EPO level go up.


CONCLUSIONS
Androgen replacement treatment can increase the EPO levels in patients of hypogonadism, which is one of the mechanism of RBC production increase.
Cui
Yu-Gui
YG
Key Laboratory, Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
Tong
Jian-Sun
JS
Pan
Qin-Qin
QQ
Di
Fu-Song
FS
Jia
Yue
Y
Feng
Ting
T
Liu
Yu
Y
Wang
Xing-Hai
XH
Zhang
Gui-Yuan
GY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007713:Klinefelter Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004921:Erythropoietin; D013739:Testosterone; C010792:testosterone undecanoate