High normal testosterone levels in infants with non-mosaic Klinefelter's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) is associated with hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism in adulthood. However, limited information exists about the age at which hypogonadism occurs. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is transiently activated during the first months of life, offering the opportunity to study testicular function by spontaneous, basal hormone levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the HPG axis in KS infants.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Ten KS infants aged 3.1 months (range 1.8-3.8) and 613 healthy controls aged 3.0 months (range 2.0-4.5). Serum levels of total and free testosterone (T), LH, FSH, inhibin B and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were determined.


RESULTS
KS infants had significantly higher concentrations of total T (5.0 (2.2-11.2) vs 3.4 (0.7-8.3) nmol/l, P = 0.02), free T (31.6 (18.2-61.8) vs 22.1 (4.3-48.4) pmol/l, P = 0.01), LH (3.3 (1.3-4.6) vs 1.7 (0.6-4.3) IU/l, P = 0.005) and FSH (1.7 (1.1-4.1) vs 1.2 (0.4-3.0) IU/l, P = 0.007) than controls. SHBG and inhibin B did not differ from controls. LH/T and LH/free T ratios were normal, whereas the FSH/inhibin B ratio was elevated (6.5 (2.7-16.9) vs 3.0 (0.78-11.4), P = 0.005) when compared to controls. The majority of KS infants had normal bivariate hormonal combinations.


CONCLUSIONS
We found increased FSH/inhibin B ratio as a possible sign of Sertoli cell dysfunction. However, serum levels of T were high normal suggesting an altered pituitary-gonadal set point.
Aksglaede
Lise
L
University Department of Growth and Reproduction GR, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Section 5064, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. lise.aksglaede@rh.regionh.dk
Petersen
Jørgen H
JH
Main
Katharina M
KM
Skakkebaek
Niels E
NE
Juul
Anders
A
D017668:Age of Onset; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D007713:Klinefelter Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009030:Mosaicism; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone