Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist analog (nafarelin): a useful diagnostic agent for the distinction of constitutional growth delay from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Nafarelin, published as a randomized controlled trial.

To determine the usefulness of a GnRH agonist analog as a diagnostic test to distinguish between constitutional delay of growth (CGD) in boys with Tanner stage I of sexual development and patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), the researchers evaluated six boys (mean age 15 yr 4 m) and five HH patients (mean age 20 yr 4 m).

Why It Was Studied

All subjects were healthy, and had not received hormonal replacement for at least 2 months prior to enrollment in the study.

Each man had four baseline blood samples before and at timed intervals following the administration of either GnRH or nafarelin.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 20 men taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults and middle-aged adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized study.

The men were allocated by chance, so the Nafarelin group and the comparison group should start out alike.

LH, FSH, T and E2 were measured by RIA.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Circadian Rhythm, Diagnosis, Differential, Estradiol, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone, Growth Disorders and Hypogonadism.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study of Nafarelin in 20 men.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1996 (Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM), a journal based in Germany.

More context: the Nafarelin compound page, all human trials.