Andrology: Pituitary-testicular axis in men with β-thalassaemia major.

Autor: Papadimas, J., Mandala, E., Pados, G., Kokkas, B., Georgiadis, G., Tarlatzis, B., Bontis, J., Sinakos, Z., Mantalenakis, S.
Zdroj: Human Reproduction; Sep1996, Vol. 11 Issue 9, p1900-1904, 5p
Abstrakt: Delayed puberty and hypogonadism are frequently observed in patients with homozygous β-thalassaemia. We evaluated the pituitary-testicular axis in 30 thalassaemic men, aged from 17 to 35 years who were regularly trans fused and underwent chelation therapy, while emphasis was given to pituitary reserves of gonadotrophins and the correlation of hormones with serum ferritin (SF). The investigation included endocrinological examination, evaluation of serum basal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone and gonadotropbin-releasing hormone (GnRH) test and also spermiograms. According to the results, patients were divided into three groups: group A, which included 18 eugonadal patients with moderately elevated SF, group B which included six patients who had hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and excessive elevation of SF, and group C, which included six patients characterized as intermediate, with regard to sexual maturation and SF levels. In conclusion, β-thalassaemia major leads to variable pituitary iron overload and thus hypophyseal damage. This endocrine disturbance is becoming less frequent nowadays with early and intensive chelation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Databáze: Complementary Index