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Longitudinal Studies of Inhibin B Levels in Boys and Young Adults with Klinefelter Syndrome

Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Anna-Maria Andersson, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, GR-5064, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. E-mail: anna{at}rh.dk.

The aim of the study was to investigate the longitudinal changes of inhibin B in a group of patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS; karyotype 47,XXY) progressing through puberty and to compare them to a group of age- and puberty-matched controls.

Seven boys with nonmosaic KS (karyotype 47,XXY) and 11 controls were followed with longitudinal serum inhibin B measurements every 3–12 months as they approached and entered puberty. None of the boys had significant bone age delay, and all entered puberty at the normal time and progressed through it at the expected time. In addition, 15 young adults with KS, aged 16.7–29.5 yr, were studied.

We found normal levels of inhibin B in prepubertal boys with KS and controls. In patients with KS as well as controls, inhibin B increased progressively before clinical pubertal onset. However, during late puberty inhibin B levels decreased gradually to the low/unmeasurable levels observed later in adult KS, while remaining unchanged in the controls.

This work was supported by the Svend Andersen Foundation and the European Commission (Grant BMH4-CT98-9574).

Abbreviations: KS, Klinefelter syndrome; TU, testosterone undecenoate.

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