Pituitary and gonadal function in prepubertal boys with hypospadias.

Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin tests were performed to examine the pituitary gonadal axis in 31 prepubertal boys with hypospadias. Luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone responses to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone in these boys with hypospadias were significantly higher than those in prepubertal control subjects (luteinizing hormone, p less than 0.01). follicle stimulating hormone, p less than 0.05). Prepubertal boys with hypospadias had remarkably reduced testosterone responses to human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation compared to controls (p less than 0.01). Hormonal milieus were further analyzed in the subtypes of hypospadias depending on their severity (distal vs. proximal). Nine of the 31 boys with hypospadias were classified as the proximal type. Basal luteinizing hormone levels in the proximal type were significantly higher than in the distal type (p less than 0.05). Luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone responses to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and responses of testosterone to human chorionic gonadotropin were not significantly different in the 2 types. Seven of the 31 boys with hypospadias had a history of maternal progestin ingestion. Basal luteinizing hormone levels and responses of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone were also significantly higher in these subjects than in controls (p less than 0.005), though basal levels and responses of testosterone to human chorionic gonadotropin were not different from those of controls. Tests conducted to determine luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone levels using luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation revealed no statistical differences between the boys with hypospadias who had a history of maternal progestin ingestion and those without such a history. The majority of prepubertal boys with hypospadias had varying degrees of deficient testicular activity. The testicular function of these patients should be evaluated longitudinally at puberty and thereafter in order to insure the completion of secondary sexual development.