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ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF PITUITARY CONADAL AXIS IN THALASSEMIA MAJOR
Author(s) -
ANOUSSAKIS CH.,
ALEXIOU D.,
ABATZIS D.,
BECHRAKIS G.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1977.tb07806.x
Subject(s) - thalassemia , medicine , endocrinology
A study of the pituitary gonadal axis was undertaken in 18 male patients with thalassemia major and 41 normal males, in order to define the cause of the sexual infantilism frequently seen in children affected by this illness. The plasma testosterone level was measured before as well as after stimulation by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Serum gonadotropin level was also determined during prepubertal, pubertal and postpuberal age. Significant findings were an insufficient secretion of gonadotropins as well as low testosterone level in patients of pubertal and post‐pubertal age. A normal response of testes to HCG stimulation was also observed.