Assessing hypothalamic pituitary gonadal function in reproductive disorders
File(s)
Author(s)
Koysombat, Kanyada
Dhillo, Waljit S
Abbara, Ali
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Reproductive conditions secondary to disorders of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis are common and are associated with important health implications and considerable psychosocial impact. Basal and dynamic tests enable interrogation of individual components of the HPG axis, facilitating diagnosis and understanding of the pathophysiology of reproductive disorders. Onset of puberty is controlled by hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal function. To date, a dynamic test of hypothalamic function is not yet available. Therefore, accurate differentiation of pubertal disorders such as constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) and congenital hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (CHH) as causes of delayed puberty is challenging due to similar clinical presentations and hormonal profiles. Likewise, although the two commonest reproductive disorders in women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA) have disparate hypothalamic function, oligo/amenorrhoea frequently poses a diagnostic conundrum owing to the overlap in the criteria used to define both conditions. This review aims to describe pubertal and reproductive disorders secondary to pathologies affecting the HPG axis. Challenges encountered in clinical practice in differentiating pubertal and reproductive conditions are reviewed in conjunction with the utility of baseline and dynamic endocrine tests to interrogate specific components of the HPG axis. We also highlight putative hypothalamic, pituitary, and gonadal markers in development that could improve the diagnosis of patients presenting with disorders of puberty or reproduction.
Date Issued
2023-06
Date Acceptance
2023-05-17
Citation
Clinical Science, 2023, 137 (11), pp.863-879
ISSN
0143-5221
Publisher
Portland Press
Start Page
863
End Page
879
Journal / Book Title
Clinical Science
Volume
137
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s).
This is an open access article published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY). Open access for this article was enabled by the participation of Imperial College London in an all-inclusive Read & Publish agreement with Portland Press and the Biochemical Society under a transformative agreement with JISC.
This is an open access article published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY). Open access for this article was enabled by the participation of Imperial College London in an all-inclusive Read & Publish agreement with Portland Press and the Biochemical Society under a transformative agreement with JISC.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:001009112500001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
CENTRAL PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
DISTINGUISHING CONSTITUTIONAL DELAY
FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE
GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE
INHIBIN-B
INSULIN-LIKE FACTOR-3
ISOLATED HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM
LH-SECRETION
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, Research & Experimental
POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME
PULSATILE LUTEINIZING-HORMONE
Research & Experimental Medicine
Science & Technology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-06-05