title: Efficacy and Outcome Predictors of Gonadotropin Treatment for Male Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: A Retrospective Study of 223 Patients.
abstract: Gonadotropin induces masculinization and spermatogenesis in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). However, large cohort studies for the efficacy and reliable predictors of this therapy need to be conducted. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of gonadotropin treatment in a large cohort of male CHH patients and analyze putative predictors for successful spermatogenesis. This retrospective study included 223 CHH azoospermic patients without puberty development treated between 2005 and 2014. All patients received combined human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and were followed up for >6 months (5109 person-months). Serum total testosterone level, testicular size, spermatogenesis, and pregnancy outcome were recorded at each visit. After gonadotropin therapy, testicular size was enlarged from 2.1 ± 1.6 to 8.1 ± 4.6 mL (P < 0.001) and serum total testosterone was elevated from 0.9 ± 0.5 to 15.1 ± 8.2 nmol/L (P < 0.001). Spermatogenesis (>0/mL) occurred at a median period of 15 months (95% confidence interval 13.5-16.5). Larger basal testicular volume (P = 0.012) and noncryptorchidism history (P = 0.028) are independent predictors for earlier sperm appearance. Sixty four percent (143/223) of patients succeeded in producing sperms and the average time for initial sperm detection was 14 ± 8 months. However, their sperm concentrations (11.7 [2.1, 24.4] million/mL) and sperm progressive motility (A + B 36.9% ± 20.2%) are significantly lower than World Health Organization standards. Of the 34 patients who desired for fathering children, 19 patients impregnanted their partners during the treatment. Gonadotropin therapy induces spermatogenesis in male CHH patients. A larger basal testicular size and noncryptorchidism history are favorable indicators for earlier spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (ZL, JM, XW, HX, XW, BH, JZ, MN), and Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (HZ), Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jangfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xueyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bingkun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008596:Menotropins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D008596:Menotropins