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Effect of low dose oxandrolone and testosterone treatment on the pituitary-testicular and GH axes in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty
E. C. Crowne , W. H. B. Wallace , C. Moore , R. Mitchell , W. H. Robertson , J. M. P. Holly & S. M. Shalet
  1 Department of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital Trust, Manchester,   2 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester,   3 Department of Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
Correspondence to: Professor S. M. Shalet

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE  To investigate the effect of low dose oxandrolone and testosterone on the pituitary- testicular and GH-IGF-I axes.

DESIGN  Prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

PATIENTS  Sixteen boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) with testicular volumes 4–6 ml were randomized to 3 months treatment: Group 1 (n = 5), daily placebo: Group 2 (n = 5), 2.5 mg oxandrolone daily or Group 3 (n = 6), 50 mg testosterone monthly intramuscular injections with assessment (growth, pubertal development and overnight hormone profiles) at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES   LH and GH profiles (15-minute samples) were analysed by peak detection (Pulsar), Fourier transformation and autocorrelation. Testosterone levels were measured hourly and insulin, SHBG, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 levels at 0800 h. Statistical analysis was by multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures.

RESULTS   LH and testosterone parameters increased significantly with time in all 16 (LH AUC, P < 0.0001; peak amplitude, P = 0.02; number of peaks, P = 0.02; testosterone AUC, P = 0.02; morning testosterone, P = 0.002). In Group 2, however, LH and testosterone parameters decreased at 3 months followed by a rebound increase at 6 and 12 months. SHBG levels were markedly reduced at 3 months (P = 0.006) and a wider range of dominant GH frequencies was present although GH AUC was not increased until 6 months, with an increase in GH pulse frequency but not amplitude. IGF-I levels were increased at both 3 and 12 months. In Group 3, pituitary-testicular suppression was not apparent, but GH levels increased with an increase in GH amplitude at 3 and 12 months.

CONCLUSION  Oxandrolone transiently suppressed the pituitary-testicular axis and altered GH pulsatility. Testosterone increased GH via amplitude modulation.


DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1046/j.1365-2265.1997.t01-1-1150928.x About DOI

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