REVIEW  SUBCLINICAL ENDOCRINE DISEASE: OLD AND NEW CLINICAL SCENARIOS 

Minerva Endocrinology 2021 September;46(3):252-61

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6507.20.03208-3

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Subclinical male hypogonadism

Giovanni CORONA ¹ ✉, Giulia RASTRELLI ², Mauro DICUIO ^{3, 4}, Sergio CONCETTI ³, Marianna MINNETTI ⁵, Rosario PIVONELLO ⁶, Andrea ISIDORI ⁵, Alessandra SFORZA ¹, Mario MAGGI ⁷

¹ Endocrinology Unit, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Medical Department, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy; ² Andrology, Female Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; ³ Urology Unit, Surgical Department, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy; ⁴ Department of Urology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden; ⁵ Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; ⁶ Unit of Andrology, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Andrology, Reproductive Medicine and Male and Female Sexuality (FERTISEXCARES) Center, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; ⁷ Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

INTRODUCTION: The concept of subclinical or compensated male hypogonadism (SHG), characterized by increased gonadotropins and normal testosterone levels is emerging. However, its real clinical significance is still conflicting. The aim of the present study was to summarize and discuss the available evidence related to the possible definition of SHG and the possible advantages of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive systematic Medline, Embase and Cochrane search was performed. Publications from January 1, 1969 up to February 29, 2020 were included. The search was restricted to English-language articles and studies of human participants.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Two main clinical forms of SHG can be described. The first identifies young patients who have a positive medical history for testis damage occurring before puberty onset. The second form can occur as a consequence of an age-dependent decline of T. Whereas the former can be the consequence of several congenital or acquired diseases, also possible causes of primary hypogonadism, the real significance of the latter is still debatable. Available evidence indicates that age-related SHG is quite a common phenomenon, occurring in 9.4% of aging men from the general population. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data have documented that it is associated with poor health and can be a sign of forthcoming increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.
CONCLUSIONS: Although available evidence suggests that in aging populations SHG can be considered a particular condition associated with an increased CV risk, it is still unknown if treatment with T can improve any outcomes in these subjects. Hence, further interventional studies are advisable to better understand the characteristics of SHG and the possible advantages of an early TRT.

KEY WORDS: Testosterone; Hypogonadism; Luteinizing hormone; Aging