Abstract
Twenty-four children (12 males) age 8.5 to 19.2 yr. were studied following LHRH stimulation, and HCG stimulation in boys. Additional tests of germ cell and corpus luteal function were perfomed in post-pubertal boys and girls respectively. Standard anti-leukaemic therapy had been discontinued for a median period of 3.1 yr. in 17 children at the study time. In most instances, prepubertal children showed appropriate LH and FSH responses and in boys, appropriate testosterone increments. Post-pubertal boys had normal Leydig cell function, but evidence of germ cell damage based on seminal analysis. Post-menarchal girls had regular menses and the use of salivary progesterone profiles throughout complete menstrual cycles indicated normal ovulation in some girls. Increasing time in remission from ALL may show recovery of endocrine dysfunction and this can be monitored in post-menarchal girls with ease, utilizing the simple and non-invasive technique of home salivary progesterone profiling.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hughes, I., Walker, R., Read, G. et al. Pituitary-gonadal function in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Pediatr Res 15, 80 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198101000-00052
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198101000-00052