Keywords congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism - infants - hormone
Introduction
Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a group of rare disorders
characterized by a deficiency in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to
pituitary gonadotropin deficiencies. This condition typically presents from fetal
development and often persists throughout life [1 ]. Male patients with CHH may have a micropenis and/or cryptorchidism at
birth. These patients lack the mini-puberty observed in normal boys after birth, a
phenomenon that can be helpful for early diagnosis [2 ]
[3 ]. Studies on the treatment of adolescent and adult patients have had
some positive results, whereas relevant reports on infant CHH are rare [4 ]. Currently, there are 22 cases of
infantile CHH treated in the literature, with the treatment of subcutaneous
injection of different doses of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH). Gonadotropins and internal androgens play important roles in the
proliferation of Leydig cells and differentiation of germ cells in the early
postnatal period [5 ]
[6 ]. In addition to prenatal androgen
secretion and action, postnatal surges in gonadotropins and sex steroids, known as
mini-puberty in normal babies, play a crucial role in genital development after
birth where Leydig and Sertoli cells proliferate substantially [7 ]. Normally, the mini-puberty period lasts
6 months and drives male genital development after birth [8 ]
[9 ]. The testes position is strongly correlated with Leydig and Sertoli
cell functions [10 ]
[11 ]
[12 ]. In the absence of GnRH activity during fetal life and
neonatal-infancy, the diminished proliferation of Sertoli cells and seminiferous
tubules, which would normally account for 90% of testicular volume owing to
FSH-signaling loss, results in undeveloped testes [13 ]. Depressed Sertoli cell-derived
anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INH-B) levels reflect a sparse Sertoli
cell mass, which, in turn, has a huge bearing on future spermatogenic potential if
not addressed appropriately [14 ]. There
are many clinical treatment options for CHH, the most common among which involves
the usage of a GnRH pump, the combination of human chorionic gonadotropin
(HCG)/human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and low-dose external testosterone (T).
Traditional treatment of congenital micropenis with low-dose external T concurrently
inhibits gonadotropin, leading to a decrease in internal T levels and exacerbating
testicular dysplasia [15 ]. The GnRH pump
can pulse release gonadotropins, simulating mini-puberty. HCG and HMG can,
respectively, stimulate the proliferation of testicular Leydig and Sertoli cells,
achieving the goal of simulating mini-puberty. Therefore, an appropriate treatment
of CHH should involve gonadotropins in the very early postnatal period to induce
testicular growth and improve future fertility potential. This study was designed
to
mimic the physiological state of mini-puberty in patients with CHH. Our treatment
plan was based on our previous experience in treating adolescents with CHH [4 ]
[16 ].
Participants and Methods
Patients
We collected treatment and follow up data of eight boys with CHH who were treated
at the Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical
University. The clinical characteristics of these patients are displayed in
[Table 1 ]. This study was
approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical
University (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02880280). The parents of the
patients provided written informed consent.
Table 1 Characteristics of the 8 patients with CHH who
received gonadotropins during early infancy.
Patient
Diagnosis
Genetic analysis
Age at treatment initiation months
Therapeutic method
Duration of treatment (months)
Height (cm)
Weight (kg)
PL (cm)
Testis position
Testicular ultrasound testis length (cm)
TV (ml)
T (g/dl)
INH-B (pg/ml)
AMH (ng/ml)
LH (IU/l)
FSH (IU/l)
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
Baseline
End
1
CHH
FGFR1
7 months
HCG+HMG
1
69.5
71.6
9.55
10.5
1.2
3.5
Both inguinal
Both scrotal
ND
ND
1
2
<4.9
478
ND
234
ND
>23
0.67
1.2
0.07
15.4
2
CHH
ANOS1
8 months
GnRH pump
3
71.5
74
11
12
2
3
Both inguinal
Both scrotal
ND
L: 1.3 R: 1.1
<1
1
8.4
745.19
38.6
137
>23
>23
0
4.39
1.3
4.36
3
CHH
negative
8 months
GnRH pump
3
65
67
10
11.2
0
3.3
L: inguinal R: scrotal
Both scrotal
L: 0.9 R: 0.8
L: 0.7 R: 0.9
<1
1
<12.97
ND
ND
85.9
ND
>23
0.03
0.03
0.13
2.29
4
MPHD
negative
8 months
GnRH pump (3 months) →HCG+HMG
6
64.5
69
7.66
9
1.7
4
Both inguinal
Both scrotal
L: 0.8 R: 0.7
L: 1.3 R: 1.2
<1
1
<7
874.92
29.4
125
>23
20.1
0.1
0.1
0.54
14.24
5
CHH
CHD7
1 year
GnRH pump
6
73
75
9.45
10
2
3.5
Both inguinal
Both scrotal
L: 0.8 R: 0.9
L: 1.4 R: 1.4
<1
1
<3
377
19.6
155
>23
>23
0.1
9.68
0.53
9.11
6
CHH
SOX2
2 years
GnRH pump
3
81.3
82
9.4
9.5
2
3.5
Both iliac fossa
Both inguinal
L: 1.0 R: 0.9
L: 1.33 R: 1.3
<1
1
<20
468.5
86.6
245.68
13.71
32.3
0.04
15.85
0.21
9.8
7
CHH
PROKR2
5 months
HCG+HMG
3
68.3
71.8
8.51
9.71
1.6
4
Both inguinal
Both scrotal
ND
L: 1.2 R: 1.2
<1
1
<20
1479
44.68
200
>23
>23
0.177
1.17
0.51
19.5
8
MPHD
ND
11 months
HCG+HMG
3
69.8
74
7
8.5
1
3
Both inguinal
Both scrotal
ND
L: 1.0 R: 1.2
<1
1
0.46
ND
44.39
ND
>23
ND
0.27
ND
0.08
ND
Data summary
70.36±5.30
73.05±4.51
9.07±1.29
10.05±1.15
1.44±0.69
3.48±0.38
L: 0.88±0.10 R: 0.83±0.10
L:1.18±0.25 R:1.1 9±0.16
undetectable
737.1±409.5
47.88±23.03
168.94±59.34
0.17±0.21
4.63±6.01
0.42±0.41
10.67±6.14
p-Value
>0.05
>0.05
<0.0001
L: 0.02 R: 0.001
NA
0.002
0.04
<0.0001
The data are expressed as mean±SD; ND: Not done; NA: Not applicable.
Study design
All infants with CHH were evaluated at baseline and once monthly until the end of
treatment. The observation items included penile length (PL), testicular volume
(TV) (as evaluated via Prader testicular gauge), serum hormone assays [T,
luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), INH-B, and AMH],
and ultrasound to assess testis size and position and record side effects. Each
treatment period lasted for 1–3 months, with follow-up assessments conducted for
3–6 months.
The patients were treated with a GnRH pump (2.5–5 μg/90 min) or injected with
human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) 1000 IU combined with human menopausal
gonadotropin (HMG) 75 IU (twice or thrice per week) (this drug contains 75IU LH
and 75IU FSH). Dose titration and duration were modified according to the T
response.
Grouping: We divided the patients into two groups based on a literature review:
low-dose group (FSH dosage<100 IU/week) and high-dose group (FSH dosage of
450–1050 IU/week).
Literature search: A search was conducted in the PubMed database using the
keywords “congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism,” “infants,” and
“mini-puberty” to retrieve articles written in the English language published up
until October 2023.
Hormone assays
Sample were collected from 8:00–10:00 AM. LH, FSH, and T levels were measured
using an enzyme-enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (Immulite 2000; Siemens
Corporation, Munich, Germany) at baseline and once a month. INH-B was measured
using a chemiluminescence immunoassay (Iflash 3000-c chemiluminescence
immunoanalyzer; Shenzhen Yahuilong Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen,
China).
Statistical analysis
Data are expressed as mean±SD. Parametric tests (t -tests and paired tests)
were used to evaluate the associations between the variables. Analyses were
performed using the SPSS software. Statistical significance was set at
p<0.05.
Results
Eight infants [six with isolated CHH and two with multiple pituitary hormone
deficiencies (MPHD)] were included in the study, and their main characteristics are
presented in [Table 1 ]. Micropenises and
cryptorchidism were diagnosed at birth or shortly after birth. Molecular testing was
performed in all patients, and only two patients had negative results ([Table 1 ]). They were treated at a mean age
of 10.4±5.9 months for a mean duration of 4.3±1.5 months. No severe adverse effects
were observed.
Clinical features
After 1–3 months of treatment, the height increased from 70.36±5.30 (–2.8 SDS) to
73.05±4.51 cm (–1.3 SDS) (p>0.05), and the weight increased from 9.07±1.29
(–1.3 SDS) to 10.05±1.15 kg (0 SDS) (p>0.05). PL increased from 1.44±0.69 to
3.48±0.38 cm (p<0.0001), and TV increased from<1 ml to 1–2 ml. Ultrasound
showed that the testes remained high scrotal or inguinal in seven patients at
baseline (cases 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8) and then descended during treatment.
The testes in case 6 were located in the iliac fossa at baseline; the patient
underwent an orchiopexy ([Table
1 ]).
Repeated treatment cycles
Two patients (cases 2 and 3) experienced testicular retraction after completing
their first course of medication, lasting 3 and 1 month, with follow-up periods
of 3 and 5 months, respectively. Case 4, diagnosed with MPHD, showed no
significant changes in the penis, testicles, and hormone levels after 3 months
of pump treatment. Owing to the impaired pituitary gland function, therapy was
switched to HCG+HMG for 3 months, resulting in significant improvement in
external genitalia.
Hormone levels
In the first month of treatment, LH, FSH, T, and INH-B levels increased
significantly, as depicted in [Fig.
1 ] and [Table 1 ]. Patients
were divided into the pump treatment group (cases 2, 3, 5, and 6) and the
HCG+HMG treatment group (cases 1, 4, 7, and 8). The HCG+HMG treatment group
generally had significantly higher FSH levels (p=0.011) than those of the pump
treatment group ([Table 2 ]). No
significant differences were noted in the baseline TV or FSH levels between the
two groups. However, it is worth considering that the significant increase in
FSH levels observed after treatment in the group receiving HCG combined with HMG
therapy may be influenced by immediate blood sampling following FSH injection.
There were no significant differences in the TV or PL between the two
groups.
Fig. 1 Hormone levels and PL changes during treatment.
Table 2 Hormonal and clinical effects of two
groups.
GnRH pump group
HCG+HMG group
p-Value
Baseline TV (ml)
<1
<1
>0.05
Baseline FSH (IU/l)
0.54±0.53
0.30±0.26
>0.05
FSH after treatment (IU/l)
6.39±3.65
16.38±2.76
0.011
LH after treatment (IU/l)
7.49±6.83
0.82±0.63
>0.05
T after treatment (ng/dl)
530.23±191.70
943.97±504.06
>0.05
PL after treatment (cm)
3.33±0.24
3.63±0.48
>0.05
ΔPL (cm)
1.83±1.01
2.25±0.17
>0.05
Literature review
We reviewed 22 cases reported in the literature and supplemented them with the
data from our study, which included eight cases. We analyzed their features and
presented the data in [Table 3 ].
Thirty patients were divided into two groups based on dosage. The Δ mean PL in
low-dose group (a total of six patients, Main et al. 2002 [20 ], and Kohva et al. 2019 [21 ]) after treatment was 1.1 cm, and
three patients required orchidopexy. The high dose group (a total of 20 patients
from literature and four patients from our study) exhibited a Δ mean PL of 2.2
cm after treatment, and the testis of patients with cryptorchidism descended
into the scrotum; only one patient required orchiopexy. In the low-dose group,
after 3 months of treatment, some patients still had incomplete testicular
descent and required orchidopexy. However, the effect was better in the
high-dose group than in the low-dose group, and the duration of course was also
shorter. Based on the literature and case studies in this article, we recommend
short-term high-dose treatment. No severe adverse reactions were observed.
Table 3 The previous literature on the treatment and
effect evaluation of CHH in infancy.
Literature [Ref]
Patient number
Age of starting treatment
Therapeutic dose
Treatment duration
Effect evaluation
Months
Months
ΔTV (ml)
ΔPL (cm)
Δ Mean T (ng/dl)
Δ Mean INH-B (pg/ml)
Δ mean AMH
Testicular position
Bougnères et al. 2008 [17 ]
2
0.5–3.5
P1 LH 392 IU/week, FSH 469 IU/week, P2 LH 350IU/week, FSH 875
IU/week
6
1.53, 1.65
1.3, 3.6
218.16, 148.13
685, 378
214 pmol/l, 440 pmol/l
Scrotum → scrotum
Sarfati et al. 2015 [18 ]
1
1
LH 525 IU/week, FSH 525 IU/week
6
2
2.3
–
–
–
Scrotum → scrotum
Stoupa et al. 2017 [19 ]
5
4.2±0.9
LH 1050 IU/week, FSH 525 IU/week
3
–
3.2, 3, 2, 2.8, 3.4
374.6
92.4 ng/ml
All 4 cases of cryptorchidism descended to scrotum
Main et al. 2002 [20 ]
1
7.9
LH 40 IU/week → 80 IU/week, FSH 42.6 IU/week
2
TV increased by 1.7 times
0.8
–
147
–
Scrotum → scrotum
Kohva et al. 2019 [21 ]
5
0.7–4.2
P1 FSH 33.2 IU/week, P2 FSH 16.6 IU/week, P3 FSH 16.6
IU/week, P4 FSH 22.5 IU/week, P5 FSH 33.4 IU/week,
testosterone 25 mg, once a month
3–4.5
–
1.7, 1.4, 0.9, 1.1, 0.7
–
–
–
Two patients with cryptorchidism descended to scrotum, and
three patients were surgically fixed
Lambert and Bougnères et al. 2016 [21 ]
8
0.25–11
LH 350 IU/week, FSH 525–1050 IU/week
6
–
1.2, 0.7, 4, 0.9, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 1.7
–
–
–
5 cases of intraabdominal cryptorchidism: 7/10 testes
completely decreased; 3/10 testes fell to the high position
of scrotum. In the testicles of 3 cases the high position of
scrotum decreased completely
Discussion
This is the first case series in China involving 8 patients exploring treatment for
infant CHH, with 4 of them being the first worldwide to undergo pituitary pump
treatment. The treatment course for our patients ranged from 3 to 6 months, and
favorable outcomes were achieved. Our exploratory treatment yielded satisfactory
results, with no significant side effects.
This study (cases 2, 3, 5, and 6) represents the first exploration of GnRH pumps for
the treatment of infant CHH in comparison with subcutaneous HCG and HMG injections.
The dosage administered was approximately half that used for adolescent and adult
patients, and the treatment duration was relatively short, typically of 3 months.
Nonetheless, we observed improvements in the symptoms of micropenis and
cryptorchidism in these patients, with significant increases in T and INH-B levels.
No severe adverse reactions were observed. The longest follow-up period in our study
was 4 years (case 7), during which we continued to monitor the condition of the
testicles and penises. Two patients experienced testicular retraction; however,
after the second round of treatment, the testicles descended back into the scrotum.
To date, the longest duration of GnRH pump treatment for infant CHH reported in this
article is 6 months.
Micropenis was corrected in all patients, and no difference was observed between the
outcomes of pump treatment and HMG+HCG treatment. Following the completion of
treatment, only one patient still required surgery to correct cryptorchidism; this
could be attributed to the initially high position of the testes (located in the
iliac fossa) in this patient. Additionally, this patient underwent treatment at the
age of 2, and the treatment outcome may not have been as effective as that in
younger patients. However, our data were limited, and we could not provide detailed
information. Therefore, we recommend initiating treatment soon after diagnosis
(preferably before 2 years of age). During the follow-up period, two patients
experienced testicular retraction. However, after undergoing a second round of
treatment, the testes descended. This observation suggests that an individualized
treatment may be necessary, possible requiring intermittent low-dose administration
of gonadotropin therapy.
To date, 22 cases of CHH have been treated in infants, with the majority of cases
involving adolescents [4 ]
[16 ]
[17 ]
[18 ]
[19 ]
[20 ]
[21 ]
[22 ]
[23 ]. The reason for focusing on treatment in infancy is the absence of
mini-puberty in these patients, which can result in the premature interruption of
reproductive system development and poor prognosis for reproduction in adulthood
[24 ]. Mini-puberty plays a crucial
role in determining long-term testicular function [24 ]. Therefore, many pediatricians have
begun exploring treatment options for infant CHH.
Cases 1, 7, and 8 were treated with a combination of HCG and HMG, whereas cases 2,
3,
4, 5, and 6 were treated with a GnRH pump. Notably, there was a significant change
in the PL of the patients, and after three months of medication, all testicles
descended into the scrotum. These observations suggested that the Leydig and Sertoli
cells in the testes functioned well, indicating their potential for fertility.
However, it is important to note that the true acquisition of fertility potential
can only be determined in adulthood. It would be beneficial to conduct comparative
cohort studies to assess spermatogenesis ability in these patients. Previous studies
have shown promising results in terms of hormone levels, penile growth, and TV in
infants treated with a combination of LH and FSH ([Table 3 ]). Regardless of the dosage, all
the symptoms improved. Notably, in the low-dose group (comprising six patients with
FSH dosage<100 IU/week) treated for>3 months, the mean increase in PL was only
1.1 cm, and three patients still required surgical fixation of the testes. In
contrast, the high-dose group (comprising 16 patients with FSH dosages ranging from
450 to 1050 IU/week) showed a mean increase in PL of 2.2 cm, and the testes of
patients with cryptorchidism descended into the scrotum. Therefore, the high-dose
group exhibited better outcomes. However, definitive conclusions could not be drawn
owing to the limited sample size. The treatment plans used in this study differ from
those used in previous studies. Cases 2, 3, 5, and 6 represent the global first
instances of the use of a GnRH pump to treat infant CHH. The dosage used was
smaller, and the treatment duration was shorter than that used in adolescent and
adult patients, typically lasting within 3 months. Nonetheless, improvements in
micropenis and cryptorchidism were observed. There were significant increases in T
and INH-B levels, and no serious adverse reactions were reported. Simultaneously,
we
observed that patients in the HCG+HMG treatment group generally exhibited higher FSH
levels than those in the pump treatment group, and this difference was statistically
significant. However, both groups demonstrated improvements in penile and testicular
functions, with no significant differences between them. Previous studies have
suggested a relative resistance of postpartum Sertoli cells to FSH in infants with
CHH, necessitating high serum FSH concentrations during treatment to achieve normal
INH-B and AMH levels. In contrast, adult patients with CHH typically exhibit FSH
concentrations of approximately 11–14 IU/l [17 ], which are sufficient to induce an increase in INH-B and AMH. Our
study found that the FSH concentration in the pump-treated group fell within the
range of 11–14 IU/l, resulting in a significant increase in INH-B levels and an
improvement in both penile and testicular function. This finding further confirms
that postpartum Sertoli cells in infants with CHH do not exhibit FSH resistance. It
is important to consider that the differences observed between the two groups may
be
attributed to variations in treatment methods and serum FSH concentrations.
In conclusion, gonadotropin treatment in CHH infants has been shown to promote the
growth of the testis and penis, as well as increase INH-B levels. This treatment
effectively mimics the physiological state of mini-puberty. Although it appears to
be effective, further investigation is required to determine whether early
initiation of gonadotropin replacement therapy can enhance the reproductive
potential of adult patients with CHH. This study represents the first exploratory
treatment for CHH in Chinese infants, and the treatment outcomes were significantly
positive. Notably, cases 7 and 8, who are currently 5 and 4 years old, respectively,
exhibited normal external genitalia after 4 years of post-treatment follow-up.
Nonetheless, long-term follow-up is still necessary to assess any changes in the
external genitalia and puberty development after treatment discontinuation.