FERTILE EUNUCH SYNDROME VERSUS CLASSIC HYPOGONADOTROPHIC HYPOGONADISM

Abstract

The functioning of the hypothalmo-pituitary-target organs axis was assessed in 3 patients with fertile eunuch syndrome (FE) and 6 patients with classic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) with or without hyposmia. Both groups of patients did not differ from each other with regard to basal serum prolactin levels, pituitary growth hormone and thyrotropin reserve and the thyroid or adrenal gland function. Both groups differed with respect to the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal function. The pituitary LH [luteinizing hormone] response to exogenous LH-RH [luteinzing hormone-releasing hormone] was (low)-normal in FE and blunted in HH. The basal FSH [follicle stimulating hormone] levels were normal in FE and undetectable in HH. The basal LH levels were normal in FE and 3 of 6 patients with HH and low in the remaining 3. The basal and HCG [human chorionic gonadotropin] stimulated plasma testosterone concentrations were significantly higher in FE than HH. FE may represent a less severe form of LH-RH deficiency, rather than a distinct disorder.