title: Short-term estriol administration modulates hypothalamo-pituitary function in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of short-term estriol administration (10 d) on the hypothalamus-pituitary function and gonadotropins secretion in patients affected by functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled clinical study on patients with FHA (n = 12) in a clinical research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hormonal determinations and gonadotropin (luteinizing hormone [LH] and FSH) response to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) bolus (10 μg) at baseline condition and after 10 d of therapy with 2 mg/d of estriol per os.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements of plasma LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol, androstenedione, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, insulin, cortisol, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, the FHA patients showed a statistically significant increase of both LH and FSH plasma levels and the significant increase of their responses to the GnRH bolus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estriol short-term therapy modulates within 10 d of administration the neuroendocrine control of the hypothalamus-pituitary unit and induces the recovery of both gonadotropins synthesis and secretion in hypogonadotropic patients with FHA.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , Italy .
authors.forename: Alessandro D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Genazzani
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology , Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan , Poland .
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podfigurna-Stopa
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology , Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan , Poland .
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czyzyk
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology , Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan , Poland .
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katulski
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , Italy .
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , Italy .
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Despini
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy , and.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angioni
authors.affiliation: d Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.affiliation: b Department of Gynecological Endocrinology , Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan , Poland .
authors.forename: Blazej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meczekalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004964:Estriol
keywords: Estriol; GnRH-stimulating test; functional hypothalamic amenorrhea; hypothalamic function