title: Effect of androgen replacement therapy on atherosclerotic risk markers in young-to-middle-aged men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a rare disorder. This study evaluated the effect of androgen replacement therapy on atherosclerotic risk markers in young-to-middle-aged men with this disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three male patients aged 30 (range: 24-39 years) who were newly diagnosed with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and 20 age-, sex- and weight-matched controls (range: 26-39 years) were included in the study. Androgen replacement therapy was given according to the Algorithm of Testosterone Therapy in Adult Men with Androgen Deficiency Syndromes (2010; Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 95, 2536). The patients were assessed at a pretreatment visit and 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Inflammatory markers and lipid parameters were evaluated. Endothelial function was assessed with brachial flow-mediated dilation of a brachial artery and high-resolution ultrasonography of the carotid intima-media thickness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The carotid intima-media thickness (P < 0·001) was higher and the brachial flow-mediated diameter (P = 0·002) was lower in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism compared to the control subjects at the pretreatment visit. There was a negative correlation between the total testosterone level and carotid intima-media thickness (r = -0·556, P = <0·001). The carotid intima-media thickness and per cent flow-mediated diameter were significantly improved in the patient group 6 months after the androgen replacement therapy (P = 0·002 and 0·026, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that low total testosterone levels can be considered a significant marker of atherosclerosis in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and that androgen replacement therapy significantly reduces atherosclerotic risk markers in these patients after 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Disease, Darica Farabi State Hospital, Darica, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berçem Ayçiçek
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: Ersen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karakılıç
authors.forename: Mazhar Müslüm
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tuna
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arduç
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berker
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Güler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone