Effects of testosterone therapy for pubertal delay
D. M. Wilson, J. Kei, R. L. Hintz and R. G. Rosenfeld
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford (Calif) University 94305.
We reviewed the effects of a brief course of testosterone enanthate (four
intramuscular injections of 200 mg at three-week intervals) on pubertal
advancement and final adult height in 50 male patients with delayed
puberty. Although those treated with testosterone were slightly older than
a group of 38 untreated subjects, the two groups had similar baseline mean
bone age delays, height z scores, Tanner stages, predicted adult heights,
growth rates, and midparental heights. Four months after baseline, the
treated group had a significantly greater mean increase in the height z
score and sexual maturation index. At 12 months, the mean increase in the
sexual maturation index remained greater in the treated group. Among
treated and untreated subjects older than 17 years, there was no
significant difference in the absolute height z score. Over 95% of treated
subjects were satisfied with the effects of therapy.
