A case of type 1 diabetes mellitus with hypothalamic amenorrhea: successful pregnancy following subcutaneous pulsatile administration of LHRH

Abstract

A 27-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus was admitted to the Shimane Medical University Hospital because of secondary amenorrhea. She had been treated with insulin since July, 1986. Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were controlled within normal limits. However, body weight gradually decreased and amenorrhea started in 1988. Physical examination revealed emaciation with BMI of 17.3. Basal levels of plasma T3, somatomedin C, LH, FSH and estradiol levels were low, whereas HGH levels were slightly elevated. Plasma LH markedly increased in response to LHRH administration. She was diagnosed as having weight loss-related hypothalamic amenorrhea. Induction of ovulation was not obtained with clomiphene citrate. Treatment with subcutaneous pulsatile administration of LHRH (20 micrograms every 120 min) resulted in an increase in plasma levels of LH, FSH and estradiol, which was accompanied by ovulation and corpus luteum formation. Further treatment with pulsatile LHRH administration was followed by conception. Two gestational sacs were detected by ultrasonography. One of them was absorbed at the early stage of pregnancy. She was delivered of one healthy female infant without complications. These findings suggest that it is important not only to control plasma glucose levels but to keep the appropriate weight and support the psychological aspects of the subject in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Subcutaneous pulsatile LHRH therapy may be effective for the induction of ovulation in clomiphene-resistant hypothalamic amenorrhea; however, it will be necessary to solve the problem of dosage and the interval of LHRH administration in the future.