Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Severe β-Thalassemia: Effect of Chelation and Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Therapy

摘要: We studied pituitary-gonadal function in 11 male and 5 female patients, aged 12–30 yr, with severe β-thalassemia chronic iron overload. All had normal basal serum cortisol, T4, PRL concentrations cortisol GH responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia TSH TRH. Of the patients (all over 17 yr of age), only 3 attained full pubertal development 4 subnormal LH FSH GnRH. As a group, their mean testosterone (T) level was low [11.7 ± 4.9 (±se) nmol/L; normal, 10–40 nmol/L], 9 responded hCG rise T. Two age were prepubertal undetectable estradiol (E2) levels absent GnRH; other patient regular menstrual cycles E2 Six (4 males 2 females, 17–30 yr) serially for after th...