ESPE Abstracts

Background: cryptorchidism is associated with the high risk of infertility. In some cases it may be the one of the first symptom of congenital hypogonadism. The period of 0 – 6 month of life is a short window for postnatal testicular maturation and the diagnostic of reproductive disorders.

Objective: to evaluate the functional condition of pituitary and gonads in mini-puberty boys with bilateral cryptorchidism.

Method: 28 boys ages 1–3 months with bilateral inguinal testes were examined. Control group consist of 40 healthy boys ages 1–3 month. Methods: Gonads evaluation and serum reproductive hormones in all boys were performed and included ultrasound and hormonal tests – gonadotropins, testosterone and inhibin B serum levels by immunoenzyme assays. Molecular assay was included in examination if it was necessary.

Results: inguinal testes were found by ultrasound. Hormonal tests revealed different results: a) normal LH, FSH, testosterone and inhibin B level in 53,6% patients; b) increase the LH – 7.8 [6.0; 11.1] IU/l and FSH 15.9 [8.8; 19] IU/l (p=0,0007) level, normal testosterone – 5.0 (1.3; 5.4) nmol/l and decrease inhibin B level 96 [48; 97] IU/l (P=0.023) in 28,6% boys; c) low LH - 0,08[0,05; 0,12], FSH serum level, low testosterone and inhibin B – 39 [28; 43] (p=0.003) in 17,8% boys.

Conclusion: hormonal investigation in mini-puberty boys with inguinal cryptorchidism showed a prognosis for puberty and fertility and it is the most important for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism early determination. Testicular disorders were revealed in in 28,6% with bilateral cryptorchidism; the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was diagnosed – in 14% boys with bilateral inguinal cryptorchidism.