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Normal bone density in male pseudohermaphroditism due to 5alpha- reductase 2 deficiency
E M Frade Costa1, I J Prado Arnhold, M Inacio
1Division of Endocrinology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brasil.
Unlabelled:
Bone is an androgen-dependent tissue, but it is not clear whether the androgen action in bone depends on testosterone or on dihydrotestosterone. Patients with 5alpha-reductase 2 deficiency present normal levels of testosterone and low levels of dihydrotestosterone, providing an in vivo human model for the analysis of the effect of testosterone on bone.
Objective:
To analyze bone mineral density in 4 adult patients with male pseudohermaphroditism due to 5alpha-reductase 2 deficiency.
Results:
Three patients presented normal bone mineral density of the lumbar column (L1-L4) and femur neck, and the other patient presented a slight osteopenia in the lumbar column.
Conclusion:
Patients with dihydrotestosterone deficiency present normal bone mineral density, suggesting that dihydrotestosterone is not the main androgen acting in bone.