Endocrine Abstracts

Association between idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) and atherosclerotic disease in young males remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the effect of improving the testosterone level on cardiovasculary (CV) risk markers in young males with IHH.

Materials and methods: The study included 19 non-obese males with IHH and 17 healthy controls. The patients were treated with hCG therapy (n=8) or testosterone replacement (n=11). Testosterone levels were targeted within the upper % 50 of normal range. Group 1 included 19 IHH patients who were at visit of first time and 14 IHH patients completed the 3rd month follow-up visit. Control group included 17 healthy subjects. Inflammatory markers, including homocysteine, hsCRP, mean platelet volume (MPV) and lipid parameters were evaluated. Endothelial function – measured via flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of a brachial artery – and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) were evaluated using high-resolution ultrasonography.

Results: There weren’t any differences in Group 1 (mean age: 29 years; BMI: 25.1 kg m²) and control group (mean age: 31 years; BMI: 24 kg m²) regarding to age and BMI (P>0.5, for all). Only, Carotid IMT was higher in Group 1 than the control group with respect to other atherosclerotic risk markers (P<0.01, for all).

There was no change at BMI (25.6 kg/m²) after three months in preliminary findings from our prospective study (P>0.05). Carotid IMT was descreased at 3rd month visit, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.059). And, there was a negative correlation between carotid IMT and free testosterone (r=−0.43, P=0.024).

Conclusion: If prospective findings from the our present study will show an association between an improved testosterone level and atherosclerotic risk markers it can be say that atherosclerosis could be improved after treatment of IHH in young males.