A Therapeutic Proposal for Mini-Puberty in Male Infants with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: A Retrospective Case Series.

Abstract

Background: Male patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) have impaired postnatal activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis that occurs during mini-puberty. The aim of this study was to report our experience using gonadotropin replacement therapy for mini-puberty in male infants with CHH and to establish treatment recommendations. Methods: The patients included in this retrospective case series (n = 9) were diagnosed in the postnatal period due to micropenis, with two being accompanied by cryptorchidism and four with other associated hormonal deficits. All patients started treatment with gonadotropins early after diagnosis, between 2 weeks and 5 months of age, with a schedule of discontinuous injections with subcutaneous human chorionic gonadotropin (62.5-500 IU) two times per week and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone-alpha (37.5-75 IU) three times per week. Results: The data from our study show an early response, ranging from almost undetectable levels of testosterone at diagnosis to elevated levels after starting treatment, as well as a positive clinical response with increases in testicular volume and penis size in all cases without requiring complementary treatment with testosterone esters and without adverse effects. Conclusions: Our results show that gonadotropin replacement therapy is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for testicular and penile problems in male patients with CHH.