EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR CONCENTRATIONS IN SEMINAL PLASMA FROM PATIENTS WITH HYPOGONADISM - CHANGES AFTER HORMONE REPLACEMENT

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) content in seminal plasma of 17 patients with androgen deficiency (12 Klinefelter's syndrome and 5 hypogonadot ropic hypogonadism) was determined before and after hormone replacemen t. No significant increase of plasma testosterone level was demonstrat ed after testosterone administration in Klinefelter's syndrome, althou gh the level in 4 of 5 patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism rea ched the normal range. In 16 patients, except 1 with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with no increase of blood testosterone level, prostate vo lume increased after hormone therapy, and volumes after treatment were significantly larger than those before treatment. On the other hand, EGF concentration in seminal plasma remained at the pretreatment level in most patients. It is therefore concluded that although the prostat e volume increases to almost normal after treatment, prostate function does not improve in most patients, indicating that in patients with h ypogonadotropic hypogonadism fertility potential may remain low, even if they obtain normal seminal parameters after treatment.