Therapeutic strategies in a male with delayed puberty

Therapeutical strategies in male with delayed puberty. Delayed puberty (absence of pubertal modifications after 14-15 years of age) due to transitory deficit of LHRH secretion often constitutes a difficult differential diagnostic problem for conditions of permanent LHRH deficit which can be identified only after 18 years of age in the idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. After a period of clinical observation short-term therapy with pulsatile LHRH administration may take place. Therapy can be necessary: to document the functional integrity of the pituitary-gonadal axis; to promote pubertal modification such as to improve and physiologically sustain the patient; to tray a neuroendocrine activation of endogenous LHRH-LH secretion. Also delayed puberty linked to uremia seems to respond to short-term pulsatile LHRH administration. Pulsatile LHRH administration is the most physiological therapeutical approach to subject with delayed puberty. It seems to constitute a valid alternative to the therapy with testosterone or gonadotropins.