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SITE OF ACTION OF CLOMIPHENE AND ITS USE AS A TEST OF PITUITARY FUNCTION
Author(s) -
Newton John,
Dixon Peter
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1971.tb00344.x
Subject(s) - hypopituitarism , hypophysectomy , medicine , endocrinology , chromophobe cell , endocrine system , pituitary gland , hormone , clear cell , renal cell carcinoma
Summary Serial 24‐hour urine samples have been assayed for total oestrogens, LH and FSH. Thirty‐five clomiphene treatment cycles (dose range 50–200 mg. per day for five days) in oligomenorrhoeic women were monitored. Twenty‐eight patients ovulated and all showed a gonadotrophin increase which preceded any change in oestrogen. Thirty patients with secondary amenorrhoea were given 100 to 200 mg. of clomiphene and in 21 patients there was a rise in gonadotrophins that preceded any change in oestrogen. Seven male patients also showed a significant increase in ICSH after clomiphene. Five patients with hypopituitarism following hypophysectomy for chromophobe adenoma showed no change in oestrogen or LH with clomiphene treatment. One patient with partial hypopituitarism showed an increase in LH which preceded any change in oestrogen. It is concluded that the main action of clomiphene is at the hypothalamic‐pituitary level and accordingly the use of clomiphene as a test of pituitary function for gonadotrophins has been suggested, as its site of action appears to be on the hypothalamic pituitary axis.