CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL NEURAL RESPONSES IN MALES WITH IDIOPATHIC HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM

It has previously been shown that abnormal neurophysiologic responses are associated with Kallmann's syndrome. However, little is known abou t neurophysiologic responses in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadi sm (IHH). Fifty-six untreated male patients with IHH (mean age: 20+/-0 .7 years) were compared with a control group of 20 age-matched male su bjects to determine whether IHH can lead to alterations in somatosenso ry evoked potentials (SSEPs) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). We have also investigated the effect of gonadotropin replacem ent (hCG/hMG) therapy on these tests in 20 randomly selected patients. Significant cervical 7 (N-13), Erb (N-9) and thoracic 12 (N-22) laten cy prolongation was observed in median and tibial nerve SSEPs in patie nts with IHH as compared with a matched control group. Other component s of SSEPs and interpeak latencies of BAEPs yielded no significant dif ference between untreated patients and control group. Abnormal compone nts of SSEPs did not correlate with basal hormone levels and did not i mprove with gonadotropin therapy, We conclude that IHH results abnorma lities in peripheral but not central nervous system components of SSEP s and that short term gonadotropin treatment cannot correct these abno rmalities.