The Effects of Androgen Replacement Therapy on Glycemic Control in a Case with Klinefelter Syndrome and Poorly Controlled Diabetes

Abstract

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most common sex chromosome anomaly among men. It is usually characterized by hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, eunuchoid body structure, and most often, 47,XXY karyotype. Studies have shown that KS patients have high risk of developing autoimmune diseases and diabetes, and the hypogonadism that accompanies the syndrome makes regulation of diabetes more difficult. A 39-year-old man with KS was admitted to Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Polyclinic because of increased blood glucose level: His glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value was 14.9%. He had diabetes for approximately 5 years and was using 80 IU insulin daily at time of admission, but after testosterone replacement therapy, his insulin requirement decreased to 60 units. Follow-up HbA1c was 7.7% after 2 months of androgen replacement therapy. Hypoandrogenemia may contribute to development of newly diagnosed diabetes or deterioration of pre-existing diabetes. Testosterone replacement therapy can improve glycemic control in these patients.

Knowledge and awareness of the Klinefelter Syndrome among the dental students

“…[ 10 11 12 ] The presence of hypothalamic, pituitary, and gonadal axis has been changed by patients with KS despite low-normal testosterone levels. [ 13 ]…”