Abstract
The onset of puberty is characterized by and increase in plasma LH associated with nocturnal sleep, which is absent in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) patients. Immunoradiometric assay IRMA, a highly sensitive assay provides improved detection of the quantititative changes of serum gonadotropins during puberty. The purpose of this study was to determine the LH normal response to GnRH, measured by IRMA, among pubertal stages and establish if it improves the differentiation between delayed puberty (DP) and HH. Basal and GnRH stimulated levels of LH were measured in 38 normal children (prepubertal n=18;early pubertal n=11; advanced pubertal n=9):nine with DP(TANNER I,test.vol. < 3; CA m±SD: 13.84±1.14; BA 11.94±0.47) and 7 with HH (TANNER I, test vol < 3; BA 13.83±1.12).
Values(mUI/ml) the X±SD (*) p<0.002, (**) p < 0.0001 VS previous stage or DP VS HH. Patients with DP could not be distinguished from those with HH, neither by clinical criteria nor by baseline values of LH. However, the LH responses to the GnRH test differentiated DP from HH (p<0.0001). LH responses did not overlap in either group. These results suggest that even without pubertal signs (male BA.: 11.94±0.47 y), administration of GnRH with LH measurements, represents an alternative method to multiple nocturnal sampling and would help in differenciating gonadotropin deficiency from delayed puberty.
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Stivel, M., Arias, G., Campeni, S. et al. 28 USEFULNESS OF LH MEASUREMENTS BY A HIGHLY SENSITIVE INMUNORADIOMETRIC ASSAY IN RESPONSE TO GnRH IN THE DIFFERENTIATION OF DIVERSE GONADOTROPIC PATHOLOGIES. Pediatr Res 36, 676 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199411000-00052
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199411000-00052