Thyroid volume in young males with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism versus young healthy males

Objective: To evaluate the differences in thyroid volume and thyroid functions between male patients newly diagnosed with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) and healthy males. Material and Method: A total of 51 consecutively diagnosed male patients with IHH (mean age: 30.1±8.9 years) and 36 body mass index (BMI)-and age-matched healthy controls (mean age: 31.3±5.9 years) were included in the study. All the subjects resided in the same region where mild iodine deficiency was present. Patients with thyroid diseases were excluded. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), IGF-1, prolactin, cortisol, total testosterone, free testosterone, free T4 (fT4), free T3 (fT3), TSH, anti-TPO, and anti-TG were evaluated. Thyroid volumes (TV) were measured using a high-resolution ultrasound operated by an experienced endocrinologist. Results: FSH, LH, total testosterone and free testosterone were lower in patients with IHH than in the control subjects (p<0.05). TSH, fT4, fT3, anti-TPO, and anti-TG were found to be similar in both groups (p>0.05). Thyroid volume of patients with IHH (mean value of TV=11, 0±6.2 mL) was significantly smaller than in the control subjects (mean value of TV=18, 6±8.1 mL) (p=0.001). Conclusion: Young males with newly diagnosed IHH have smaller thyroid volume than healthy males. Thyroid function tests were similar in both groups.