ECE2013 Poster Presentations Male reproduction (41 abstracts)
1Dpt Scienze Cardiotoraciche e Polmonari, Second University of Napoli, U. Endocrinology, Napoli, Italy; 2Dpt Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale Magrassi-Lanzara, Second University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy.
Erythrocytosis is a frequent adverse event associated with testosterone (T) administration in aged hypogonadal men, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. T administration to aged men reduced hepcidin (Hpc) levels, a cytokine regulating iron availability, suggesting a potential role in deregulated erythropoiesis. Aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of T replacement therapy on Hpc levels in young hypogonadal men.
Methods: Fifty-eight subjects (1836 years) with hypogonadism due to Kallmann syndrome (16), idiopathic hypogonadism (12), multiple pituitary deficiency (7), Klinefelter syndrome (18), and anorchidism (5) were studied. Blood samples were obtained basally (pts. never treated or after 3-months suspension) and after 612 months of T substitution therapy with 1 g of T undecaonate (TU) i.m. every 1012 weeks (30 cases), or 250 mg of T enanthate (TE) im every 23 weeks (20 c), or 50100 mg T gel/d (6 c). In all samples haematocrit (Ht), Hpc (by Elisa) and T (by RIA) were determined. T therapy increased T and Ht, and decreased Hpc levels (P<000.1). Hpc levels were negatively related to T and Ht. Fifteen subjects (26%) developed polycythaemia (Ht>50); 10 out 15 (67%) received TE.
Conclusion: Erythrocytosis is also frequent in T treated young hypogonadic. TE administration seems favour polycythaemia respect to other formulations. T-induced suppression of Hpc may contribute mechanistically to stimulate erythropoiesis.