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Human Chorionic Gonadotropin TestingChanging Testicular Response in Infants With Microphallus and Gonadotropin Deficiency
Walter J. Meyer, MD;
Patrick G. Brosnan, MD;
M. Cassandra Matustik, MD
Am J Dis Child. 1984;138(2):181-182.
Abstract
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• The evaluation of microphallus often includes human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation to evaluate testicular androgen production. The response in testosterone secretion after five days of stimulation with chorionic gonadotropin is abnormal in patients with either primary testicular defects or gonadotropin deficiency. The testes of gonadotropin-deficient children do respond if the chorionic gonadotropin therapy is continued for six weeks. The current study reports a normal response to the short course (five days) of chorionic gonadotropin therapy in two 2-month-old patients with XY chromosomes with microphallus whose clinical course and repeated testing at age 3 or 4 years indicated gonadotropin deficiency. The normal response in the neonatal period is probably the result of maternal chorionic gonadotropin priming of the fetal testes in utero. These results indicate that HCG testing is an unreliable method for identifying gonadotropin deficiency in the neonatal period.
(AJDC 1984;138:181-182)
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Dr Brosnan is now with the Driscoll Foundation Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, Tex, and Dr Matustik is now with the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Sept 7, 1983.
Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550 (Dr Meyer).
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