The evolution of polycystic ovaries in a girl with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism before puberty and during puberty induced with pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Fertil Steril. 1987 May;47(5):872-5. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59184-5.

Abstract

We describe a girl of 12.7 years who had GnRH deficiency after surgery and radiotherapy for a craniopharyngioma at age 5 years. She had large cystic ovaries with a small uterus in the absence of spontaneous gonadotropin pulsatility. Puberty was induced by low-dose pulsatile GnRH treatment over a 1.5-year period. In the perimenarcheal period, ovarian morphology became typical of PCO with abnormal diurnal pulsatile gonadotropin secretion. These data suggest that PCO is primarily a disorder of the ovary and that the observed gonadotropin abnormalities are secondary to the ovarian lesion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Female
  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary / deficiency*
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / complications*
  • Hypogonadism / etiology
  • Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / etiology*
  • Puberty / drug effects*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary
  • Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones