Document Detail


Primary testicular dysfunction is a major contributor to abnormal pubertal development in males with Prader-Willi syndrome.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19401370     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Recent studies challenge the assumption that hypogonadism in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is due only to hypothalamic dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to characterize sexual development and reproductive hormones in PWS males and investigate the etiology of hypogonadism. METHODS: Physical examination and blood sampling were performed on 37 PWS males, ages 4 months to 32 yr. Results: All had a history of undescended testes; age at orchiopexy ranged from 2 months to 6 yr. Pubertal signs were variable, but none achieved full genital development. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in PWS boys were near the lower limits of normal, decreasing from 44.4 +/- 17.8 ng/ml (mean +/- sd) in young children to 5.9 +/- 4.7 ng/ml in adolescents, similar to normal males. In contrast, inhibin B was consistently low (27.1 +/- 36.1 pg/ml) or undetectable in all age groups. In adult males, FSH levels were high (20.3 +/- 18.3 IU/liter), LH levels were normal (4.2 +/- 4.3 IU/liter), and testosterone levels were low (1.87 +/- 1.17 ng/ml). Only two adults had severe hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with undetectable levels of LH and FSH and high AMH levels (34.9 and 36.7 ng/ml), unlike the other nine adults with AMH levels 2.6 +/- 2.1 ng/ml. Androstenedione (1.06 +/- 0.30 ng/ml) and DHEAS (281.1 +/- 143.6 microg/dl) in adult PWS were normal. CONCLUSIONS: Pubertal development in PWS is characterized by normal adrenarche, variable hypothalamic dysfunction, and hypogonadism due to a unique testicular defect. Primary testicular dysfunction is a major component of hypogonadism in PWS.
Authors:
Harry J Hirsch; Talia Eldar-Geva; Fortu Benarroch; Orit Rubinstein; Varda Gross-Tsur
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2009-04-28
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism     Volume:  94     ISSN:  1945-7197     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.     Publication Date:  2009 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-07-08     Completed Date:  2009-08-06     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375362     Medline TA:  J Clin Endocrinol Metab     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2262-8     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Neuropediatric Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91031, Israel. hirschmd@gmail.com
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Androgens / blood
Child
Child, Preschool
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypogonadism / etiology
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
Infant
Male
Prader-Willi Syndrome / complications*,  physiopathology
Puberty / physiology*
Sex Differentiation Disorders / etiology*,  physiopathology
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / analysis
Testicular Diseases / complications*,  physiopathology
Testis / growth & development,  physiology
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Androgens; 0/Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Role of unilateral adrenalectomy in bilateral primary aldosteronism: a 22-year single center experie...
Next Document:  The role of genetic variation in the lamin a/c gene in the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome.