Modulatory activity of testosterone on growth pattern and IGF-1 levels in vanishing testis syndrome: a case report during 15 years of follow-up

• Published in: BMC endocrine disorders Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 13
• Main Authors: Franco, Marta, Khorrami Chokami, Keyvan, Albertelli, Manuela, Teti, Claudia, Cocchiara, Francesco, Gatto, Federico, Trombetta, Carlo, Ferone, Diego, Boschetti, Mara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 12.01.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Case Report; Follow-Up Studies; Growth; Humans; Hypogonadism; IGF-1; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Male; Puberty; Quality of Life; Reproductive organs; Testis; Testosterone; Testosterone - therapeutic use; Puberty; Testosterone; Case report; IGF-1; Growth; Hypogonadism
• ISSN: 1472-6823; 1472-6823
• DOI: 10.1186/s12902-022-01258-2

The vanishing testis syndrome (VTS), is a 46, XY disorder of sex development (46, XY DSD) and is characterized by the absence of testis in a 46, XY subject with male genitalia, gonadal dysgenesis and consequent hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. A young man affected by VTS has been followed up for more than 15-year in our center. The patient received different testosterone formulations, which modulated his IGF-1 levels and height velocity, depending on different stimulatory effects, mimicking pubertal spurt until achieving a final height in line with his genetic target. Exogenous testosterone, activating GH/IGF-1 system, can directly influence growth pattern. With this particular case report we demonstrate that an accurate monitoring of patients with VTS, as well as a perfect reproduction of testosterone secretion during pubertal spurt, can guarantee a normal growth and development and, consequently, a high level of quality of life in adulthood. Testosterone levels act an important role during pubertal spurt in modulating the GH/IGF-1 axis, besides its well-known impact in sexual development. Very little amount of exogenous testosterone can stimulate IGF-1 secretion and provide to growth velocity the drive that characterizes the initial phases of the growth spurt.