Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
J Endocrinol Invest. 2009 Dec;32(11):934-8. doi: 10.1007/BF03345775. Epub 2009 Dec 1.
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), or secondary hypogonadism, is a clinical condition due to an impairment of the pituitary function, characterized by low testosterone plasma levels associated with normal or low FSH and LH plasma levels. An impairment of gonadotropin secretion and, therefore, a reduced efficiency of spermatogenesis was reported to be frequently associated to conditions different from the classical causes of secondary hypogonadism. These conditions (metabolic, endocrine and eating disorders, physical exercise etc.) have been associated with a non-classical form of HH that could be called "functional" HH (FHH). FHH differs from the classical one by the evidence that gonadotropin levels are in the low-normal range, but are inadequate for the testosterone levels, that often are also in the low-normal range. This commentary aims at reviewing knowledge on the forms of male HH in order to indicate and discuss clinical context, diagnostic and therapeutic approach in the less known non-classical form, i.e. FHH.
低促性腺激素性性腺功能减退症（HH），又称继发性性腺功能减退症，是一种由于垂体功能障碍引起的临床病症，其特征是血浆睾酮水平降低，同时 FSH 和 LH 血浆水平正常或降低。据报道，促性腺激素分泌受损以及因此导致的精子发生效率降低，与除了经典的继发性性腺功能减退症以外的病因密切相关。这些病因（代谢、内分泌和饮食紊乱、体育锻炼等）与一种被称为“功能性”HH（FHH）的非经典形式的 HH 相关。FHH 与经典 HH 的不同之处在于证据表明，促性腺激素水平处于低正常范围，但不足以维持睾酮水平，而睾酮水平通常也处于低正常范围。本篇评论旨在回顾男性 HH 的各种形式，以指出和讨论鲜为人知的非经典形式（即 FHH）的临床背景、诊断和治疗方法。
