Proportion of Hypogonadism in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients and Its Contributing Factors.

BACKGROUND: Beta thalassemia is a lifelong disease involving malformed red blood cells (RBC). One of the disease's complications is hypogonadism, in which adults tend to exhibit regression in sexual characteristics, experience sexual dysfunction, and therefore have a lower quality of life. Around 3-10% of the Indonesian population carries the beta-thalassemia gene. This study aimed to see the proportions of hypogonadism in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients and its contributing factors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 60 male patients admitted to three Indonesian general hospitals from July 2022 to July 2023. All patients were diagnosed with beta-thalassemia via chromatography hemoglobin analysis. We performed a single-time physical examination and laboratory examinations to determine FSH, LH, and free testosterone levels. The correlation between Hb and sexual hormone levels was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. ROC curve analysis was conducted afterward. All statistical analysis was done in SPSS version 29. RESULTS: 31 out of 60 thalassemia patients had hypogonadism. Pre-transfusion Hb count was found to be linearly correlated with FSH (r = 0.388, p = 0.049), LH (r = 0.338, p = 0.008), and free testosterone (r = 0.255, p = 0.049). ROC analysis indicated that pre-transfusion Hb was viable as a predictor for hypogonadism (AUC = 0.655, 65.5% sensitivity, 67.7% specificity). CONCLUSION: We confirmed the role of pre-transfusion Hb count as a potential predictor for hypogonadism due to the tissue hypoxia mechanism and transfusion-related iron overload in TDT patients. Decreased Hb is linearly correlated with FSH, LH, and testosterone levels. Decreased Hb also downregulates these factors.

Hypogonadism and neurocognitive outcomes among childhood cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood cancer survivors are at risk for hypogonadism. The impact of hypogonadism on neurocognitive impairment and emotional distress in the non-cancer population has been shown; however, the relationship among the childhood cancer survivor population is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of hypogonadism to neurocognitive impairment and emotional distress among survivors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using retrospective cohort. METHODS: In total, 3628 survivors who completed standard neurocognitive tests (six domains: processing speed, memory, executive function, attention, academics, and global cognition) and self-reported emotional distress were included in our study. Participants were stratified by sex and gonadal status. Outcomes were compared between hypogonadal and eugonadal groups by multivariable analysis, adjusting for established predictors, and mediation analyses to determine the direct/indirect effects of hypogonadism on outcomes. RESULTS: The hypogonadal group exhibited a higher prevalence of neurocognitive impairment across domains, but no difference in emotional distress. Hypogonadal females exhibited higher relative risk (1.7, 95% CI, 1.2-2.5) for impaired visual processing speed, compared to eugonadal females after adjusting for cancer-related variables. In mediation models, hypogonadism had a significant direct (P < .01) and indirect (from P < .01) impact on impairment in visual processing speed among females. Males demonstrated direct (P = .03) and indirect (P = .04) impact of hypogonadism on motor processing speed. CONCLUSION: Processing speed may be the most vulnerable neurocognitive domain associated with hypogonadism in survivors, while other domains were mainly impacted by cancer-related variables. Our findings support the need for further evaluation of the impact of sex hormone replacement therapy on neurocognitive function.

APHRODITE criteria: addressing male patients with hypogonadism and/or infertility owing to altered idiopathic testicular function.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can a novel classification system of the infertile male - 'APHRODITE' (Addressing male Patients with Hypogonadism and/or infeRtility Owing to altereD, Idiopathic TEsticular function) - stratify different subgroups of male infertility to help scientists to design clinical trials on the hormonal treatment of male infertility, and clinicians to counsel and treat the endocrinological imbalances in men and, ultimately, increase the chances of natural and assisted conception? DESIGN: A collaboration between andrologists, reproductive urologists and gynaecologists, with specialization in reproductive medicine and expertise in male infertility, led to the development of the APHRODITE criteria through an iterative consensus process based on clinical patient descriptions and the results of routine laboratory tests, including semen analysis and hormonal testing. RESULTS: Five patient groups were delineated according to the APHRODITE criteria; (1) Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (acquired and congenital); (2) Idiopathic male infertility with lowered semen analysis parameters, normal serum FSH and normal serum total testosterone concentrations; (3) A hypogonadal state with lowered semen analysis parameters, normal FSH and reduced total testosterone concentrations; (4) Lowered semen analysis parameters, elevated FSH concentrations and reduced or normal total testosterone concentrations; and (5) Unexplained male infertility in the context of unexplained couple infertility. CONCLUSION: The APHRODITE criteria offer a novel and standardized patient stratification system for male infertility independent of aetiology and/or altered spermatogenesis, facilitating communication among clinicians, researchers and patients to improve reproductive outcomes following hormonal therapy. APHRODITE is proposed as a basis for future trials of the hormonal treatment of male infertility.

Effect of Testosterone on Progression From Prediabetes to Diabetes in Men With Hypogonadism: A Substudy of the TRAVERSE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in men with hypogonadism on the risk of progression from prediabetes to diabetes or of inducing glycemic remission in those with diabetes is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of TRT in preventing progression from prediabetes to diabetes in men with hypogonadism who had prediabetes and in inducing glycemic remission in those with diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nested substudy, an intention-to-treat analysis, within a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Assessment of Long-Term Vascular Events and Efficacy Response in Hypogonadal Men [TRAVERSE]) was conducted at 316 trial sites in the US. Participants included men aged 45 to 80 years with hypogonadism and prediabetes or diabetes who were enrolled in TRAVERSE between May 23, 2018, and February 1, 2022. Intervention: Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 1.62% testosterone gel or placebo gel until study completion. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the risk of progression from prediabetes to diabetes, analyzed using repeated-measures log-binomial regression. The secondary end point was the risk of glycemic remission (hemoglobin A1c level <6.5% [to convert to proportion of total hemoglobin, multiply by 0.01] or 2 fasting glucose measurements <126 mg/dL [to convert to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0555] without diabetes medication) in men who had diabetes. Results: Of 5204 randomized participants, 1175 with prediabetes (mean [SD] age, 63.8 [8.1] years) and 3880 with diabetes (mean [SD] age, 63.2 [7.8] years) were included in this study. Mean (SD) hemoglobin A1c level in men with prediabetes was 5.8% (0.4%). Risk of progression to diabetes did not differ significantly between testosterone and placebo groups: 4 of 598 (0.7%) vs 8 of 562 (1.4%) at 6 months, 45 of 575 (7.8%) vs 57 of 533 (10.7%) at 12 months, 50 of 494 (10.1%) vs 67 of 460 (14.6%) at 24 months, 46 of 359 (12.8%) vs 52 of 330 (15.8%) at 36 months, and 22 of 164 (13.4%) vs 19 of 121 (15.7%) at 48 months (omnibus test P = .49). The proportions of participants with diabetes who experienced glycemic remission and the changes in glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels were similar in testosterone- and placebo-treated men with prediabetes or diabetes. Conclusions and Relevance: In men with hypogonadism and prediabetes, the incidence of progression from prediabetes to diabetes did not differ significantly between testosterone- and placebo-treated men. Testosterone replacement therapy did not improve glycemic control in men with hypogonadism and prediabetes or diabetes. These findings suggest that TRT alone should not be used as a therapeutic intervention to prevent or treat diabetes in men with hypogonadism. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03518034.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is an indicated treatment of several medical conditions including late-onset hypogonadism, congenital syndromes, and gender affirmation hormonal therapy. Increasing population age, medical benefits, and public awareness of TRT have resulted in increased prevalence of its utilization. However, TRT is not without concern for adverse risks including venous thromboembolic complications, cardiovascular events, and prostate issues. In the field of orthopaedic surgery, research is beginning to delineate the complex relationship between TRT and the development of orthopaedic conditions and potential effects on surgical interventions and outcomes. In this review, we discuss current literature surrounding TRT and subsequent development of osteoarthritis, incidence of total joint arthroplasty, musculotendinous pathology, postoperative infection risk, improvements in postoperative rehabilitation metrics, enhancement of osseous healing, and increased bone-implant integration. The authors suggest future areas of investigation that may provide guidance on how surgeons can mitigate adverse risks while optimizing benefits of TRT in the orthopaedic patient.

Management of Male Fertility in Hypogonadal Patients on Testosterone Replacement Therapy.

Testosterone is crucial in regulating several body functions in men, including metabolic, sexual, and cardiovascular functions, bone and muscle mass, and mental health. Therefore, optimizing testosterone levels in men is an important step to maintaining a healthy body and mind, especially as we age. However, traditional testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to lead to male infertility, caused by negative feedback in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Recent advances in research have led to the discovery of many new methods of administration, which can have more or less suppressive effects on the HPG axis. Also, the usage of ancillary medications instead of or after testosterone administration might help maintain fertility in hypogonadal patients. The goal of this narrative review is to summarize the newest methods for optimizing fertility parameters in patients undergoing treatment for hypogonadism and to provide the necessary information for healthcare providers to make the right treatment choices.

Multiple sclerosis and hypogonadism: is there a relationship?

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system and is widely recognized as a disease primarily affecting women. The relationship between MS and hypogonadism is complex and not fully understood, with recent evidence showing that hypogonadism may have a significant impact on the quality of life and disease progression of patients with MS. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding the relationship between MS and hypogonadism, including the mechanisms underlying this relationship; the effects of hypogonadism on patients with MS; and the potential benefits and drawbacks of testosterone replacement therapy for patients with MS and hypogonadism. METHODS: This scientific review analyzed 19 articles that investigated the potential relationship among MS, testosterone levels, and hypogonadism. The articles were published between November 2008 and March 2022 and were identified through a comprehensive search of the PubMed database. The search terms used included "multiple sclerosis," "testosterone," "hypogonadism," and "MS and testosterone levels." RESULTS: Of the 19 articles reviewed, 11 described a positive correlation between low testosterone levels and dysfunction within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in individuals with MS. These findings suggest that low testosterone levels may contribute to dysfunction within the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, which plays a crucial role in regulating testosterone production. The results also showed a relationship between sexual dysfunction and low testosterone levels, as well as a positive correlative relationship between these factors. CONCLUSION: The reviewed articles indicate a complex relationship among MS, testosterone levels, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, with low testosterone levels potentially contributing to dysfunction in this axis and to sexual dysfunction. Further research is needed to better understand the effects of testosterone therapy on MS and sexual dysfunction in patients with MS.

Testosterone Treatment and Fractures in Men with Hypogonadism.

BACKGROUND: Testosterone treatment in men with hypogonadism improves bone density and quality, but trials with a sufficiently large sample and a sufficiently long duration to determine the effect of testosterone on the incidence of fractures are needed. METHODS: In a subtrial of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that assessed the cardiovascular safety of testosterone treatment in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism, we examined the risk of clinical fracture in a time-to-event analysis. Eligible men were 45 to 80 years of age with preexisting, or high risk of, cardiovascular disease; one or more symptoms of hypogonadism; and two morning testosterone concentrations of less than 300 ng per deciliter (10.4 nmol per liter), in fasting plasma samples obtained at least 48 hours apart. Participants were randomly assigned to apply a testosterone or placebo gel daily. At every visit, participants were asked if they had had a fracture since the previous visit. If they had, medical records were obtained and adjudicated. RESULTS: The full-analysis population included 5204 participants (2601 in the testosterone group and 2603 in the placebo group). After a median follow-up of 3.19 years, a clinical fracture had occurred in 91 participants (3.50%) in the testosterone group and 64 participants (2.46%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.97). The fracture incidence also appeared to be higher in the testosterone group for all other fracture end points. CONCLUSIONS: Among middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism, testosterone treatment did not result in a lower incidence of clinical fracture than placebo. The fracture incidence was numerically higher among men who received testosterone than among those who received placebo. (Funded by AbbVie and others; TRAVERSE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03518034.).

The association between frailty, hypogonadism, and postoperative outcomes among men undergoing radical cystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Hypogonadism is associated with frailty, lower health-related quality of life, decreased muscle mass, and premature mortality, which may predispose patients to poor postoperative outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of hypogonadism in men undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) and whether hypogonadism and frailty are associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IBM MarketScan database was used to identify men who underwent RC between 2012 and 2021. Frailty was determined using published Hospital Frailty Risk Score ranges. Patients were considered to have hypogonadism if diagnosed within 5 years prior to RC. Length of stay (LOS), complications, emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient readmissions were compared. Sub-group analysis of men with hypogonadism was performed to determine the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 3,727 men who underwent RC, 226 (6.1%) had a diagnosis of hypogonadism. Overall, 565 (15.2%) men were low-risk frailty, 2,214 (59.4%) intermediate-risk frailty, and 948 (25.4%) were high-risk frailty, and men with hypogonadism were significantly more frail compared to men without hypogonadism (P = 0.027). There was no significant difference in LOS, complications, or rate of ED visits and inpatient readmissions between cohorts (P > 0.05). However, high-risk frailty was associated with an increased risk of 90-day ED visit (HR 1.19, 95%CI 1.00-1.41, P = 0.049) and 90-day readmission (HR 1.60, 95%CI 1.29-1.97, P < 0.001) after RC. Among men with hypogonadism, 58 (25.7%) were on TRT. There was no significant difference in frailty, LOS, complications, or 90-day ED visits or 90-day inpatient readmissions between patient with hypogonadism prescribed TRT and those without TRT. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that hypogonadism and preoperative frailty may be important to evaluate prior to undergoing RC.

Evaluation of the Incidence of Low Testosterone Levels in Young Male Adults with Moderate to Severe Obesity-Single-Centre Study from India.

PURPOSE: With the increase in obesity epidemic among Asians, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of obesity on this population. Low testosterone levels are known to be associated with obesity. This is the 1st study from Asia to evaluate incidence and magnitude of hypotestosteronemia in young adults with BMI more than 32.5 kg/m2 defined as moderate to severe obesity in Asians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-four male patients with BMI more than 32.5 kg/m2, between 18 and 30 years old who visited a single bariatric facility between 2017 and 2020, were evaluated with BMI, total and free testosterone levels and clinical features of gynecomastia, hypogonadism, and thinning of pubic and armpit hair. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and ANOVA test. RESULTS: 60.4% of patients (84/134) had low testosterone levels (< 300 ng/dl) and 23.9% (32/134) had levels between 300 and 400 ng/dl. 89.6% patients (120/134 had gynecomastia, 60.4% (81/134) had thinning of pubic and arm pit hair, and 62.7% (84/134) had hypogonadism. Testosterone levels showed a decreasing trend with increasing BMI, but it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Obesity is one of the important etiologies of hypotestosteronemia and its manifestations in young adults. The actual incidence may be significantly higher than what is reported in the literature. High-quality research is required to address questions of diagnosis and best treatment options.

Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Sexual Function and Hypogonadal Symptoms in Men with Hypogonadism.

CONTEXT: Few long-term randomized trials have evaluated the efficacy of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in improving sexual function and hypogonadal symptoms in men with hypogonadism and whether effects are sustained beyond 12 months. OBJECTIVE: The Testosterone Replacement therapy for Assessment of long-term Vascular Events and efficacy ResponSE in hypogonadal men (TRAVERSE) study evaluated the effect of TRT on major adverse cardiovascular events in middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism. The Sexual Function Study, nested within the parent trial, determined testosterone's efficacy in improving sexual activity, hypogonadal symptoms, libido, and erectile function among men reporting low libido. METHODS: Among 5204 men, 45-80 years, with 2 testosterone concentrations <300 ng/dL, hypogonadal symptoms, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or increased CVD risk enrolled in the TRAVERSE trial, 1161 with low libido were enrolled in the Sexual Function Study (587 randomized to receive 1.62% testosterone gel and 574 to placebo gel for the duration of their participation in the study). Primary outcome was change from baseline in sexual activity score. Secondary outcomes included hypogonadal symptoms, erectile function, and sexual desire. RESULTS: TRT was associated with significantly greater improvement in sexual activity than placebo (estimated mean [95% CI] between-group difference 0.49 [0.19,0.79] and 0.47 [0.11, 0.83] acts per day at 6 and 12 months, respectively; omnibus test P = .011); treatment effect was maintained at 24 months. TRT improved hypogonadal symptoms and sexual desire, but not erectile function, compared with placebo. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism and low libido, TRT for 2 years improved sexual activity, hypogonadal symptoms, and sexual desire, but not erectile function.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Klinefelter Syndrome-Follow-up Study Associating Hemostasis and RNA Expression.

BACKGROUND: Men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) develop hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, are in need of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and present with a more than 4-fold increased risk of thrombosis. TRT in KS has the potential to modify thrombotic risk, but data are scarce. AIM: To assess effects of 18 months of TRT on hemostasis in KS and identify genes associated with the prothrombotic phenotype. METHODS: Untreated and TRT-treated men with KS were included at baseline and matched to healthy controls. TRT was initiated in untreated KS and all groups were reassessed after 18 months of follow-up. Thrombin generation was evaluated with or without thrombomodulin, and fibrin clot lysis was evaluated by turbidity measurements. RNA expression was assessed in blood, fat, and muscle tissue of patients with TRT-treated KS and controls. RESULTS: Thrombin generation with thrombomodulin was slightly increased in untreated KS, but overall KS was not associated with a hypercoagulable state. KS presented with fibrinolytic impairment associated with higher body fat and higher levels of fibrinogen. Eighteen months of TRT in KS was associated with a reduction in body fat and fibrinogen, attenuating the prothrombotic profile. The expression of ENPP4 was higher in men with KS and served as a key player among a group of genes associated with impaired fibrinolysis. CONCLUSION: KS is associated with a specific expression profile contributing to fibrinolytic impairment and increased thrombotic risk in the patients. TRT in patients with KS has the potential for alleviating the prothrombotic phenotype, in particular by reducing body fat and fibrinogen.

Erectile function and androgen and estrogen beta receptor gene polymorphisms in acromegalic men.

PURPOSE: Sexual dysfunctions are often experienced by male patients with acromegaly, due to a combination of hypogonadism and other comorbidities, but are a scarcely investigated complication. Erectile dysfunction is also closely related to cardiovascular diseases through endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, this project aimed to assess the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in a population of acromegalic men and evaluate its association with cardio-metabolic disorders, also exploring associations with androgen and estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms. METHODS: Sexually active men aged 18-65 with previous diagnosis of acromegaly were recruited. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected. Each patient also provided a blood sample for AR and ERß gene polymorphisms analyses and filled out the IIEF-15 questionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty men with previous diagnosis of acromegaly (mean age 48.4 ± 10.0 years) were recruited. 13/20 subjects (65%) had erectile dysfunction, but only four had a concurrent biochemical hypogonadism, with no significant correlation with IIEF-15 scores. Total testosterone negatively correlated with sexual intercourse satisfaction domain (ρ = - 0.595; p = 0.019) and general satisfaction domain (ρ = - 0.651; p = 0.009). IGF-1 levels negatively correlated with biochemical hypogonadism (ρ = - 0.585; p = 0.028). The number of CAG and CA repeats in AR and ERß receptors genes was not significantly associated with IIEF-15 scores or with GH/IGF-1 levels, but a negative correlation between CA repeats and the presence of cardiomyopathy (ρ = - 0.846; p = 0.002) was present. CONCLUSIONS: Men with acromegaly have a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction, but it does not appear to be correlated with treatments, testosterone levels and AR/ER-beta signaling. Nonetheless, a shorter CA polymorphic trait (ERbeta) is associated with the presence of cardiomyopathy. If confirmed, these data may suggest an association between an incorrect hormonal balance and increased cardiovascular risk in acromegaly subjects.

Conventional X-rays in the diagnosis and follow-up of vertebral fractures in patients with acromegaly: a real-life study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of conventional X-ray imaging in detecting vertebral fractures (VFs) in patients with acromegaly, both at diagnosis of disease and at the last clinical visit. The risk factors for VFs were also evaluated. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 60 consecutive patients with acromegaly, in a tertiary referral centre. Thoracolumbar spine radiography (X-spine) was performed at the last clinical visit during the follow-up in order to detect VFs. Routine chest radiograph, performed as a part of the general evaluation at diagnosis of acromegaly, were retrospectively analysed to screen for baseline VFs. RESULTS: At diagnosis of acromegaly, chest X-ray revealed that 10 (17%) patients had VFs. Of the 50 patients without VFs at diagnosis of acromegaly, 33 (66%) remained unfractured at the last clinical visit (median [IQR] time, 144 [96-192] months after the diagnosis of acromegaly), whereas 17 (34%) had VFs. Overall, 22 patients (37%) had novel VFs detected on X-spine including five patients with previous VFs. Risk factor for incident VFs was the presence of hypogonadism at diagnosis of acromegaly (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: In acromegaly patients, conventional X-rays can detect vertebral fractures early at diagnosis of acromegaly. They can also reveal incident VFs, which may occur several years later even in patients without VFs at diagnosis, above all in relation to hypogonadism.

Hypogonadism is frequent in very old men with multimorbidity and is associated with anemia and sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Clinical data regarding hypogonadism in very old men with multimorbidity are rare. Hypogonadism can contribute to osteoporosis, anemia and sarcopenia and is therefore a relevant problem for geriatric patients. METHODS: A total of 167 men aged 65-96 years (mean 81 ± 7 years) admitted to an acute geriatric ward were included in a cross-sectional study. Body composition derived from dual-energy X­ray absorptiometry, bone mineral density, handgrip strength, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and laboratory values were obtained from the routine electronic clinical patient file. RESULTS: Hypogonadism was present in 62% (n = 104) of the study participants, of whom 83% showed clinical manifestation of hypogonadism (hypogonadism in combination with anemia, sarcopenia and/or low T­score). The subgroups showed a distribution of 52% primary and 48% secondary hypogonadism. Compared to the eugonadal patients, hypogonadal patients had reduced handgrip strength (p = 0.031) and lower hemoglobin levels (p = 0.043), even after adjustment for age, body mass index and glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSION: Hypogonadism is common in geriatric patients. If chronic anemia, sarcopenia, or osteoporosis are diagnosed, testosterone levels should be determined in geriatric settings.

Change in telomere length and cardiovascular risk factors in testicular cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Testicular cancer (TC) survivors cured with chemotherapy (CT) are prone to develop cardiovascular diseases, as part of an accelerated aging phenotype. A mechanism contributing to these events can be telomere shortening. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective cohort of patients with disseminated TC who received cisplatin-based CT, mean absolute leukocyte telomere length (TL) was measured before and 1 year after start of treatment. Cardiovascular risk factors, including development of the metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism, were assessed before and up to 5 years after CT. RESULTS: For the whole group (n = 55), TL did not change 1 year after CT (5.7 (2.2-13.4) vs. 5.8 kb (1.6-19.2), P = 0.335). At baseline, patients with a BMI >30 kg/m2 (n = 12) had shorter TL (4.9 (2.2-13.4) vs. 6.3 kb (3.1-12.9), P = 0.045), while no age-dependent differences were measured. Patients with TL shortening after 1 year (n = 7) showed a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.007) and triglycerides (P = 0.003), compared to those with unchanged TL. There was no association between telomere shortening after 1 year or short TL at baseline (n = 7+11) and development of metabolic syndrome (25% vs. 21%; P = 0.777), or hypogonadism (38% vs. 17%; P = 0.120) after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: A small subset of TC patients treated with cisplatin-based CT showed telomere shortening 1 year after treatment. This shortening was associated to a rise in diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides, but not to newly developed metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism after 5 years.

Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction in Sturge-Weber syndrome: case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare neurocutaneous disorder that is characterized by a segmental dermatomal facial port-wine stain birthmark and is frequently accompanied by ipsilateral brain and eye abnormalities. We present a case of a patient with SWS who exhibited hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, growth hormone (GH) deficiency, and central hypothyroidism at the age of 20 despite the absence of radiographic findings in the pituitary and hypothalamus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old male with SWS with epilepsy and Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome presents with delayed pubertal development, short stature, and obesity. Upon further examination, he was found to have biochemical and clinical evidence of hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, and GH deficiency. A pituitary MRI displayed no abnormalities of the pituitary or hypothalamus. Treatment with testosterone cypionate and levothyroxine was initiated. Despite successful pubertal induction, IGF-1 levels have remained low and treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is now being considered for metabolic benefits. CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the importance of endocrine evaluation and treatment of hormonal deficiencies in patients with SWS despite the absence of radiographic findings.

Noninvasive Indices of MASLD Are Associated With Hypogonadism in Male Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

CONTEXT: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease, affecting one-fourth of the adult population worldwide. Recent data found an association between MASLD and hypogonadism, but this relation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in men with T2DM the association between total testosterone (TT) and noninvasive indices of hepatic steatosis (Fatty Liver Index [FLI], Hepatic Steatosis Index [HSI], Dallas Steatosis Index [DSI]) and fibrosis (AST to Platelet Ratio Index [APRI], Fibrosis-4 Index [FIB-4]), and their predictive cutoff values in identifying hypogonadism. METHODS: Cross-sectional study on 189 men with T2DM, without history of liver diseases and alcoholism, recruited on an outpatient basis. Interventions were andrological evaluation, metabolic parameters, TT, and liver indices. The main outcome measures were comparison of steatosis and fibrosis indices with testosterone levels and presence of hypogonadism. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to identify cutoff values of liver indices in predicting low testosterone (<12 nmol/L). RESULTS: FLI, HSI, and DSI were negatively related with TT and were higher in the low-testosterone group than in the normal-testosterone group (FLI: 74.1 [61.4-93.5] vs 56.5 [32.1-78.2], P < .001; HSI: 41.5 [39.2-45.9] vs 40.1 [36.6-43.2], P = .005; DSI: 0.45 [-0.08-+1.04] vs -0.07 [-1.02-+0.58], P < .001). FLI and DSI also correlated with clinical symptoms of hypogonadism. No differences between groups were observed for APRI and FIB-4. FLI ≥63 was the best parameter as predictive index of low TT (sensitivity 73%, specificity 64%). CONCLUSION: We found an association between noninvasive indices of steatosis and hypogonadism in patients with T2DM. These indices could be used to direct the patients to andrological evaluation.

Novel perspectives of testosterone therapy in men with functional hypogonadism: traversing the gaps of knowledge.

INTRODUCTION: In the past decade, there has been a significant augmentation in the corpus of evidence pertaining to functional hypogonadism. Despite this, prevailing clinical guidelines continue to advise against the universal screening for hypogonadism in middle-aged and elderly males. FINDINGS: Numerous randomized controlled trials have scrutinized the effects of testosterone therapy in males afflicted with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. However, these guidelines uniformly assert that lifestyle modifications and weight reduction should be the primary intervention strategies in overweight and obese males, relegating testosterone therapy to a secondary, selective option. It is extensively documented that testosterone therapy can yield substantial improvements in various metabolic parameters as well as ameliorate symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated the potential of testosterone therapy in reversing type 2 diabetes in males with low-normal testosterone levels who are at elevated risk for this condition, in comparison to the outcomes achievable through lifestyle modifications alone. CONCLUSION: This focused review article aims to present a comprehensive update on the latest data concerning the innovative aspects of testosterone therapy in males with functional hypogonadism, particularly in the context of type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. Additionally, it will delve into the cardiovascular safety of such interventions within this high-risk demographic, with a special emphasis on insights gleaned from the TRAVERSE trial.

Efficacy and safety of PDE5 inhibitors in middle-aged and old patients with and without hypogonadism.

PURPOSE: Although several reviews have evaluated the use of PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) for treating erectile dysfunction (ED), their specific use in middle-aged and old patients has not been fully evaluated. Given that elderly patients with ED often have a complex combination of systemic and sexual health risk factors, the safety and efficacy of PDE5i in such a context are hereby reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A thorough examination of existing literature has been conducted on PubMed. RESULTS: PDE5i has good safety and efficacy, but the situation is more complex for patients with hypogonadism than those with normal testosterone levels, with reduced responsiveness to PDE5i. In this case, combination therapy with testosterone is recommended, safe and effective. CONCLUSIONS: Eliminating or reducing reversible risk factors and controlling or slowing the development of irreversible factors is an important foundation for using PDE5i to treat ED in all patients, especially middle-aged and elderly ones.