Reversibility of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in a patient with the juvenile form of hemochromatosis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To report a case of complete reversibility of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with intensive venesection treatment in juvenile hemochromatosis.

DESIGN:

Case report.

SETTING:

Endocrine department of Hippocrateion Hospital of Athens.

PATIENT(S):

A 25-year-old man who presented with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and severe iron overload due to juvenile hemochromatosis and who was initially treated with phlebotomies and androgen substitution.

INTERVENTION(S):

Intensification of chelation therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):

Clinical evaluation, serum ferritin concentration, and biochemical assessment of pituitary function were performed periodically.

RESULT(S):

One year after normalization of serum ferritin levels and transferrin saturation was achieved, he became eugonadal.

CONCLUSION(S):

We believe that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in juvenile hemochromatosis may be reversible by a consequent venesection therapy probably because treatment was intensive and promptly introduced at a young age.

• Authors: Nicholas G Angelopoulos, Anastasia Goula, Evagelos Dimitriou, George Tolis
• Journal: Fertility and sterility (Fertil Steril) Vol. 84 Issue 6 Pg. 1744 (Dec 2005) ISSN: 1556-5653 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16359978 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Transferrin
• Ferritins

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Ferritins (blood)
• Hemochromatosis (complications, therapy)
• Humans
• Hypogonadism (etiology, therapy)
• Male
• Phlebotomy
• Remission Induction
• Transferrin (metabolism)