PITUITARY-TESTICULAR AXIS IN MEN WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA MAJOR

Delayed puberty and hypogonadism are frequently observed in patients w ith homozygous beta-thalassaemia. We evaluated the pituitary-testicula r axis in 30 thalassaemic men, aged from 17 to 35 years who were regul arly transfused and underwent chelation therapy, while emphasis was gi ven to pituitary reserves of gonadotrophins and the correlation of hor mones with serum ferritin (SE), The investigation included endocrinolo gical examination, evaluation of serum basal levels of follicle stimul ating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone and g onadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) test and also spermiograms. Acco rding to the results, patients were divided into three groups: group A , which included 18 eugonadal patients with moderately elevated SF, gr oup B which included sis patients who had hypogonadotrophic hypogonadi sm and excessive elevation of SF, and group C, which included six pati ents characterized as intermediate, with regard to sexual maturation a nd SF levels, In conclusion, beta-thalassaemia major leads to variable pituitary iron overload and thus hypophyseal damage. This endocrine d isturbance is becoming less frequent nowadays with early and intensive chelation therapy.