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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Testosterone | Case Report
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 | Issue 1/2023
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Background
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.
Case presentation
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.
Conclusion
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.