ISOLATED DEFICIENCY OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE IN MAN - A CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

A 34-year-old male patient was studied because of primary infertility. He was a normally virilized man with normal potency, habitus, and sen se of smell. The testes were of normal consistency and volume. Semen a nalysis showed azoospermia. The baseline serum concentrations of lutei nizing hormone (LH) were normal, but those of follicle-stimulating hor mone (FSH) were undetectable. After stimulation with gonadotrophin-rel easing hormone (GnRH), 100 pg, iv, the response of LH was normal, wher eas the rise in FSH levels was minimal. The administration of clomiphe ne citrate (100 mg/day for 21 days) increased LH levels, but FSH level s remained low. Serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol wer e normal. Baseline serum levels of thyrotrophin, prolactin, growth hor mone, corticotrophin and cortisol were also normal. The patient refuse d testicular biopsy and treatment with purified human FSH. Our results suggest a possible defect for FSH production at the pituitary level.