Dexamethasone suppressible hypergonadotropism in an adolescent patient with Prader-Willi syndrome

Endocrinol Jpn. 1990 Feb;37(1):165-9. doi: 10.1507/endocrj1954.37.165.

Abstract

We report an adolescent patient with Prader-Willi syndrome accompanying suppressible hypergonadotropism. The subject is an 18-year-old female. She was obese (body mass index: 35.7) and hypomyotonic with mental retardation. On endocrinological examination, a high serum LH concentration and hyperresponsiveness of luteinizing hormone (LH) to intravenously administered LH-Releasing Hormone (LH-RH) were observed, while the basal follicle stimulating hormone level was within the normal range. In addition, serum dehydroxyepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) was also increased. Following 2 mg dexamethasone administration for 7 days, serum LH and DHEA-S were almost normalized and hyperresponse of LH to LH-RH completely disappeared. The present study provides evidence that altered responsiveness to adrenal steroid may be involved in the establishment of hypergonadotropinism in an adolescent patient with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / biosynthesis
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood*
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / complications
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / metabolism

Substances

  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
  • Dexamethasone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone