| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted on November 30, 2005
Accepted on February 6, 2006
Neuroendocrine Unit, (KKM, JGL, BMKB, JJ, CB, AK), Department of Neurosurgery (BS), Department of Radiation Oncology (JL), Massachusetts General Hospital Biostatistics Center (DS), and Psychology Assessment Center (JS), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: KKMiller{at}Partners.org.
Context: Hypopituitarism in women is characterized by profound androgen deficiency due to a loss of adrenal and/or ovarian function. The effects of testosterone replacement in this population have not been reported.
Objective: To determine whether physiologic testosterone replacement improves bone density, body composition, and/or neuro-behavioral function in women with severe androgen deficiency secondary to hypopituitarism.
Design: 12-month randomized, placebo-controlled study
Setting: General Clinical Research Center
Study Participants: 51 women of reproductive age with androgen deficiency due to hypopituitarism
Intervention: Physiologic testosterone administration using a patch that delivers 300 mcg daily or placebo
Main Outcome Measures: Bone density, fat-free mass and fat mass were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry, Thigh muscle and abdominal cross-sectional area were measured by CT scan. Mood, sexual function, quality of life and cognitive function were assessed using self-administered questionnaires.
Results: Mean free testosterone increased into the normal range during testosterone administration. Mean hip (P = 0.023) and radius (P = 0.007), but not PA spine, bone mineral density (BMD) increased in the group receiving testosterone compared with placebo, as did mean fat-free mass (P = 0.040) and thigh muscle area (P = 0.038), but there was no change in fat mass. Mood (P = 0.029) and sexual function (P = 0.044) improved, as did some aspects of quality of life, but not cognitive function. Testosterone at physiologic replacement levels was well-tolerated, with few side effects.
Conclusions: This is the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to show a positive effect of testosterone on bone density, body composition, and neurobehavioral function in women with severe androgen deficiency due to hypopituitarism.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  J. A. Schlechte Update in Endocrinology Ann Intern Med, October 16, 2007; 147(8): 563 - 572. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. K. Miller, B. M. K. Biller, A. Schaub, K. Pulaski-Liebert, G. Bradwin, N. Rifai, and A. Klibanski Effects of Testosterone Therapy on Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Androgen-Deficient Women with Hypopituitarism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2007; 92(7): 2474 - 2479. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. K. Miller, E. A. Lawson, V. Mathur, T. L. Wexler, E. Meenaghan, M. Misra, D. B. Herzog, and A. Klibanski Androgens in Women with Anorexia Nervosa and Normal-Weight Women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2007; 92(4): 1334 - 1339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Rosner, R. J. Auchus, R. Azziz, P. M. Sluss, and H. Raff Utility, Limitations, and Pitfalls in Measuring Testosterone: An Endocrine Society Position Statement J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2007; 92(2): 405 - 413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Wierman, R. Basson, S. R. Davis, S. Khosla, K. K. Miller, W. Rosner, and N. Santoro Androgen Therapy in Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2006; 91(10): 3697 - 3710. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
