title: [Hypogonadism due to LH deficiency].
abstract: A 30-year-old man was investigated for delayed puberty and infertility. These investigations showed a complete absence of circulating luteinizing hormone (LH). Genetic studies revealed a missense mutation in the LHbeta gene (G36D). This mutation disrupts a vital cystine knot motif and abrogates the heterodimerization and secretion of LH. Treatment with hCG was instituted, which led to arise in testosterone and improvement in spermatogenesis. After in vitro fertilization the patient had a son who was heterozygous for the G36D mutation. A second patient with similar clinical and biological presentation has been explored. A non-frame shift deletion of 3 base-pairs was discovered at position 20 which led to the deletion of a lysine residue. The proband and his prepubescent brother were homozygotic for this mutation. These cases illustrate the important physiological role of LH in male sexual maturation and fertility.
authors.affiliation: CHU de Liège.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beckers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D012102:Reproductive Control Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit; D012102:Reproductive Control Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone