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Short term growth in boys with delayed puberty after diagnostic human chorionic gonadotropin administration
Insights
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) temporarily boosted ulnar growth velocity in boys with delayed puberty. This diagnostic hCG administration increased testosterone and alkaline phosphatase, indicating an initiated growth spurt.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth and Development
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Delayed puberty in boys can impact growth and development.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that stimulates testosterone production.
- Assessing growth velocity is crucial for monitoring pubertal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of diagnostic human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on ulnar growth velocity in prepubertal boys with delayed puberty.
- To correlate growth changes with hormonal and biochemical markers.
Main Methods:
- Ten prepubertal boys with delayed puberty received 1500 IU of hCG daily for 3 days.
- Ulnar growth velocity was measured using a sensitive device before and after hCG administration.
- Plasma testosterone and serum alkaline phosphatase levels were monitored.
Main Results:
- hCG administration temporarily increased ulnar growth velocity from prepubertal to pubertal levels (0.40 mm/3 weeks to 1.1 mm/3 weeks).
- This growth-promoting effect lasted for 3-9 weeks.
- Plasma testosterone levels significantly increased (129 to 818 ng/100 ml), and alkaline phosphatase activity doubled (193 to 376 U/liter).
Conclusions:
- Diagnostic hCG administration can induce a temporary growth spurt in boys with delayed puberty.
- The observed growth is associated with increased testosterone and alkaline phosphatase, suggesting stimulation of the growth process.
- hCG may serve as a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating growth potential in such cases.
Abstract:
Using a sensitive measuring device, 3-day hCG administration (Pregnyl; 1500 IU daily) was shown to temporarily increase ulnar growth velocity from prepubertal (0.40 +/- 0.35 mm/3 weeks to pubertal values (1.1 +/- 0.64 mm/3 weeks) in 10 boys with delayed puberty. This growth-promoting effect of diagnostic hCG administration, which was demonstrable for 3--9 weeks, was associated with an overt rise in plasma testosterone from 129 +/- 126 to 818 +/- 419 ng/100 ml and an approximate doubling of the serum alkaline phosphatase activities from 193 +/- 46 to 376 +/- 115 U/liter, suggesting an initiated growth spurt.