Abstract
16 boys with CDGP in early puberty (mean(S.D)age 14.2(0.7) years, bone age 11.1(0.9) years, teeticular volume 4-6 mis) were randomly assigned to treatment for 3 months with placebo (group 1, n=5), oxandrolone 2.5 mg daily (group 2, n=5) or testosterone 4 weekly 50 mg im injection (group 3, n=6). Assessments were at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months and consisted of pubertal development, and 12 hour overnight hormone profiles with 15 minute samples. LH was assayed using a highly sensitive IRMA (Maiaclone, Serono), each profile in one assay. Testosterone was measured following ether extraction, and inhibin by RIA. LH profiles were analysed using a peak detection programme (Pulsar), Fourier transformation and autocorrelation techniques.
RESULTS. Mean testicular volume increased to 6.7, 7.6 and 8.8 mis in Groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively at 12 months (p=0.05, 0.04 and 0.015), group 3 also showed a significant increase at 6 months (p=0.04). There was a progressive increase in mean LH concentration, area under the curve (AUC) and number of LH peaks in group 1 over 12 months, but LH profiles in Groups 2 and 3 showed a decrease in these parameters at 3 months. Mean LH, number of LH peaks and AUC increased significantly between 3 and 6 months in group 3 (pcQ.002, 0.03 and 0.001 respectively). Fourier transformation and autocorrelation revealed dominant LH periodicity in group 2 at 12 months and group 3 at 6 months but not in group 1 at any time. Inhibin levels decreased at 3 months in group 2 and 3, and testosterone levels decreased at 3 months in group 2 but both inhibin and testosterone levels gradually increased throughout the 12 months in group 1.
CONCLUSION Both oxandrolone and testosterone in low dosage may affect the pituitary-testicular axis but this effect appears transient.
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Crowne, E., Wallace, W., Moore, C. et al. PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT WITH EITHER LOW DOSE OXANDROLONE OR TESTOSTERONE OR PLACEBO ON THE PITUITARY-TESTICULAR AXIS IN BOYS WITH CDGP. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S85 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00491
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00491