Klinefelter’s syndrome: a study of its hormonal plasma pattern

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Abstract
Plasma testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (Δ), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepian-drosterone sulphate (DHEAS), 5-androstene-3β-17β-diol (A-diol) and Cortisol (F) have been measured in a group of normal males and in a group of patients with Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) before and after hCG stimulation. Significantly lower baseline levels of T and DHT and significantly higher baseline levels of E2 were found in patients with KS. No significant differences were found between baseline levels of 17-OHP, Δ, DHEA, DHEAS, A-diol, and F. After hCG stimulation plasma T, DHT, E2 and 17-OHP levels showed a significant increase in the two groups of subjects. The percentage variation of T and DHT, however, was much less important in Klinefelter patients, while E2 and 17-OHP did not show a significantly different pattern from that of normal controls. hCG administration did not produce any significant variation of Δ, DHEA, DHEAS, and F in the two groups of subjects, while A-diol levels increased significantly in normal subjects, but not in Klinefelter patients. Our data may be consistent with the hypothesis that testicular steroidogenesis in Klinefelter patients is impaired below the 21-C-steroid level not only at Δ4 but also at the Δ5 pathway.