Hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis in men with chronic hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Hypothalamo-pituitary function of male patients with chronic active hepatitis was evaluated. The effects of interferon alpha therapy on hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis were also investigated.


METHODS
Twenty patients with chronic B and C hepatitis, and 10 healthy subjects were studied. Before and after treatment with IFN alpha, basal levels of FSH, and LH were obtained and all groups were evaluated with LH-RH stimulation test.


RESULTS
Baseline hormone levels and FSH and LH responses to LH-RH stimulation test were similar in patients and controls. It was notable that the LH response was considerably greater than that of FSH and pretreatment FSH results in patients with HCV infection appeared earlier than those of patients with HBV infection. Following IFN alpha treatment, the results of LH-RH stimulation test were similar to those of controls but there were a delayed LH and FSH response to LH-RH stimulation test.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypothalamic and/or gonadal hypogonadism is correlated with the degree of liver damage in cirrhosis. In patients with chronic hepatitis, which is characterized by lesser degree of liver damage than cirrhosis, HPG axis is not affected. IFN alpha, still in use for treatment of hepatitis, did not have any effect on HPG axis although it has many side effects.
Gursoy
Sebnem
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. sgursoy@erciyes.edu.tr
Baskol
Mevlut
M
Ozbakir
Omer
O
Guven
Kadri
K
Kelestimur
Fahrettin
F
Yucesoy
Mehmet
M
D000328:Adult; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology*