Abstract
The characteristics of pubertal development of 50 male patients: 17 with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) and 39 with multiple hormone deficiencies (MHD) were studied. 17 patients (7 IGHD and 10 MHD) started their puberty at a mean chronological age of 14.92 ± 1.24yr (X bone age 10.41 ± 1.50yr) and achieved pubertal stage 5 at 19.22 ± 1.58yr (X bone age 15.86 ± 1.48yr). Adult stage was reached in an average time of 4.09 ± 1.07yr (range 2.41 to 5.57yr). Plasma testosterone levels at different stages of puberty were: G1:41.23 ± 7.35, G2:99.86 ± 12.80, G3:450.59 ± 95.58, G4:618.87 ± 97.46, G5:833.40±71.39ng/dl. These values did not differ from the mean of normal children in the same pubertal stage. 15 patients without pubertal changes were treated with HCG. Plasma testosterone levels at 1,3 and 12 months of therapy were 466 ± 118.38, 1046±239.11 and 894 ± 150.23ng/dl respectively. When treatment was interrupted, with a bone age over 14yr in all of them, testosterone decreased to/prepubertal levels. Conclusions: Puberty in those patients who completed it spontaneously was similar to normal except for the chronological age of onset. HCG therapy is useful to induce puberty in patients with gonadotropic deficiency and to confirm this diagnosis.
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Martínez, A., Heinrich, J., Pellizzari, E. et al. 38 PUBERTY IN MALE PATIENTS WITH HYPOPITUITARISM. Pediatr Res 15, 189 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198102000-00095
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198102000-00095