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Adrenal and testicular function in boys affected by thalassemia

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Abstract

The adrenal androgen secretion and testicular function were studied in 6 thalassemic boys aged between 16 and 20 years. Six normal boys of the same age and 6 at the same pubertal stage (P1 according to Tanner) were also studied as controls. Plasma testosterone levels were found significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the thalassemic boys (0.8 ± 0.1 ng/ml) than in healthy boys of the same age (3.4 ± 1.01 ng/ml), but within the range of the healthy boys at the same pubertal stage (0.69 ± 0.1 ng/ml). DHA-S, a marker of adrenal maturation, showed a similar pattern. The hCG test showed a significant (p < 0.001) testosterone response in all 3 groups. The response of thalassemic boys (1.5 ± 0.18 ng/ml) was similar to that of normal boys at stage P1 (1.8 ± 0.31 ng/ml), but significantly lower (p < 0.001) than the group of normal boys of the same age (12.5 ± 3.2 ng/ml). The impaired adrenal and testicular activity is probably due to iron deposits in the endocrine glands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1a Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi, Via Jenner, 09100, Cagliari, Italy

    C. Pintor, S. Loche, R. Puggioni, A. Faedda, E. Pisano, A. M. Nurchi & R. Corda

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  1. C. Pintor
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  2. S. Loche
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  3. R. Puggioni
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  4. A. Faedda
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  5. E. Pisano
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  6. A. M. Nurchi
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  7. R. Corda
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Pintor, C., Loche, S., Puggioni, R. et al. Adrenal and testicular function in boys affected by thalassemia. J Endocrinol Invest 7, 147–150 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348406

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348406

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