Gonadotrophin response to LH-RH in boys with delayed growth and adolescence

Abstract

Plasma luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were measured before and after intravenous luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in 33 boys with growth delay. Eighteen were prepubertal and 15 pubertal. Basal LH and FSH levels were low in both groups with mean increments after LH-RH of 3-2 ± 0-8 U/I (mean ± SEM) and 2 6 ± 0 4 U/I respectively in the prepubertal and 7-4 ± 0 7 U/I and 2 0 ± 0 3 U/I in the pubertal boys. The LH increment showed a positive correlation with increasing bone age (r =0 71, P<0 001); FSH did not. The LH-RH response thus appeared normal in relation to the stage of maturity.