PULSATILE LH-RH ADMINISTRATION INDUCES PUBERTY IN HYPOGONADOTROPIC GH-DEFICIENT PATIENTS

Three growth hormone (GH) deficient males with hypogonadotropic hypogo nadism were treated with pulsatile luteinizing hormone-releasing hormo ne (LH-RH) administration. In two of them, the GH deficiency was idiop athic, but in the other it was secondary, caused by suprasellar germin oma. In response to LH-RH therapy, the serum testosterone (T), testicu lar volume, and body height increased in all three patients, and norma l serum T levels and spermatogenesis were achieved in two patients. Go nadotropin responses to an LH-RH test preceding therapy did not seem t o be an accurate predictor of the success of LH-RH therapy. We conclud e that GH-deficient patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism can be expected to achieve normal pubertal development and spermatogenesis w ith pulsatile LH-RH administration.