HYPOGONADISM IN YOUNG MEN (WITH EMPHASIS ON KLINEFELTER'S SYNDROME)

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of hypogonadism is considered, based on the evaluation of 31 patients. These studies included examination of the buccal smears for the nuclear chromatin body, testicular biopsy, and measurement of hormonal excretion. Twenty patients had Klinefelter''s syndrome and 17 of these were chromatin-positive. These subjects all had small testes, with tubular hyalinization, and elevated urinary gonadotropin titers. A detailed analysis of the present status of Klinefelter''s syndrome is given, with emphasis upon the possible role of excessive endogenous gonadotropin secretion in producing the typical testicular pathology and clinical features.