[Plasma testosterone values in patients with somatosexual development disturbances from 11 years old to adulthood]

The testosterone plasma level was determined in 5 groups: 1. in 69 normal juveniles and 85 fertile males at the age of 11 to 45 years, 2. in 42 patients with hypospadia or epispadia aged 11 to 25 years, 3. in 72 males with unilateral cryptorchidism at the age of 11 to 45 years, 4. in 83 males with bilateral cryptorchidism aged 11 to 45 years and 5. in 106 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome at the age of 16 to 45 years. A pubertal increase of the testosterone plasma level was found to begin in subjects with cryptorchidism or Klinefelter's syndrome at a similar age as in the control group. However, as early as at the age of 13 to 14 years decreased testosterone values were found in the patients as compared to normal juveniles. Between 19 and 20 years, the plasma testosterone level was significantly decreased in all patient-groups as compared to the controls of similar age. In adulthood, plasma testosterone concentrations in the patient groups were observed to be 4 to 6 ng/ml without significant age-dependent changes, which are characteristic of normospermic males. Different degrees of clinical symptoms indicating androgen deficiency found in various patient groups despite similar androgen levels in adulthood suggest a different responsiveness of their target organs to androgens.