Prepubertal serum inhibin B in cryptorchid infants and in monorchid boys with compensatory testicular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prepubertal serum inhibin B levels in monorchid boys with compensatory testicular hypertrophy (CTH) and in surgically treated cryptorchid boys with normal testicular volume.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Pediatric Division, University of Verona, Italy.

PATIENT(S): Thirty-two prepubertal boys: 11 monorchids with CTH and 21 cryptorchids. For comparison we analyzed 15 healthy boys.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): All patients underwent a GnRH agonist test. Inhibin B measurement was performed at basal time.

RESULT(S): There was a significant difference in mean testicular volume between monorchid and cryptorchid or healthy children, with boys with CTH evidencing larger testicle volume. There was no significant difference in inhibin B levels between boys with CTH and cryptorchid, but the levels were significantly lower in both groups than in the control group. Boys with CTH had significantly higher serum levels of basal FSH than children with cryptorchid. The FSH peak response to GnRH agonist stimulation was significantly higher in boys with CTH than in those with cryptorchid.

CONCLUSION(S): Monorchid infants with CTH showed low inhibin B and high FSH levels. Our finding may confirm the hypothesis that CTH is unable to prevent testicular insufficiency in adulthood. We suggest an early hormonal evaluation of boys with CTH at puberty, together with early sperm analysis.