Effects of Androgen Treatment on Growth in Patients with 5-Alpha-Reductase Type 2 Deficiency
June 2023
in “
Journal of personalized medicine
”
Studysummary This study found that dihydrotestosterone treatment may be more beneficial for height in children with 5-α-reductase type 2 deficiency compared to testosterone enanthate, especially in the prepubertal period.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study followed 19 patients with 5-α-reductase type 2 deficiency (5αRD2) for an average of 10.6 years, 12 of whom received androgen treatment. The results showed that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment did not increase bone age (BA) or height standard deviation scores (SDS) relative to BA, while testosterone enanthate (TE) treatment resulted in BA advancement and decreased height SDS relative to BA, especially in the prepubertal period. The study concluded that DHT treatment is more favorable for height than TE treatment in patients with 5αRD2, particularly during the prepubertal period. Therefore, age and the type of androgen used should be carefully considered to minimize the risk of height reduction in these patient groups.