Reversibility Of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism In A Patient With The Juvenile Form Of Hemochromatosis
Nicholas G. Angelopoulos, M.D.,a Anastasia Goula, M.D.,b Evagelos Dimitriou, M.D.,c And George Tolis, M.D., Ph.D.a Endocrine Department, Hippokrateion Hospital Of Athens, Athens, Greece; B First Department, Agia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece; And C Department Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology, St. Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Objective: To report a case of complete reversibility of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with intensive venesection treatment in juvenile hemochromatosis.
Design: Case report.
Setting: Endocrine department of Hippocrateion Hospital of Athens.
Patient(s): A 25-year-old man who presented with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and severe iron overload due to juvenile hemochromatosis and who was initially treated with phlebotomies and androgen substitution.
Intervention(s): Intensification of chelation therapy.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical evaluation, serum ferritin concentration, and biochemical assessment of pituitary function were performed periodically.
Result(s): One year after normalization of serum ferritin levels and transferrin saturation was achieved, he became eugonadal.
Conclusion(s): We believe that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in juvenile hemochromatosis may be reversible by a consequent venesection therapy probably because treatment was intensive and promptly introduced at a young age. (Fertil Steril 2005;84:1744.e11–13. ©2005 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
