Pulsatile GnRH in Anovulatory Infertility

Summary

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) upon the pituitary and ovaries of women with infertility. Women diagnosed with GnRH deficiency, hypothalamic amenorrhea or acquired hypogonadic hypogonadism, will participate in this study. It is hoped that administration of GnRH will lead to proper stimulation of the pituitary gland and to normal ovulation and menstruation. \*\*WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING ONLY WOMEN WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF IDIOPATHIC HYPOGONADIC HYPOGONADISM (IHH)\*\* Pulsatile GnRH has been approved by the FDA for use in women with primary amenorrhea due to complete GnRH deficiency. The overall goals of this protocol are to continue to use pulsatile GnRH in GnRH-deficient and other anovulatory women for ovulation induction and to examine specific physiologic hypotheses, which can only be addressed in this patient population.

Timeline

Start

1989-01

Primary completion

2020-09

Completion

2020-09

Publications

• Background Martin K, Santoro N, Hall J, Filicori M, Wierman M, Crowley WF Jr. Clinical review 15: Management of ovulatory disorders with pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990 Nov;71(5):1081A-1081G. doi: 10.1210/jcem-71-5-1081.
• Background Martin KA, Hall JE, Adams JM, Crowley WF Jr. Comparison of exogenous gonadotropins and pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone for induction of ovulation in hypogonadotropic amenorrhea. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jul;77(1):125-9. doi: 10.1210/jcem.77.1.8325934.
• Background Santoro N, Wierman ME, Filicori M, Waldstreicher J, Crowley WF Jr. Intravenous administration of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone in hypothalamic amenorrhea: effects of dosage. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986 Jan;62(1):109-16. doi: 10.1210/jcem-62-1-109.
• Background Homburg R, Eshel A, Armar NA, Tucker M, Mason PW, Adams J, Kilborn J, Sutherland IA, Jacobs HS. One hundred pregnancies after treatment with pulsatile luteinising hormone releasing hormone to induce ovulation. BMJ. 1989 Mar 25;298(6676):809-12. doi: 10.1136/bmj.298.6676.809.
• Background Filicori M, Flamigni C, Meriggiola MC, Ferrari P, Michelacci L, Campaniello E, Valdiserri A, Cognigni G. Endocrine response determines the clinical outcome of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone ovulation induction in different ovulatory disorders. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991 May;72(5):965-72. doi: 10.1210/jcem-72-5-965.
• Background Filicori M, Flamigni C, Meriggiola MC, Cognigni G, Valdiserri A, Ferrari P, Campaniello E. Ovulation induction with pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone: technical modalities and clinical perspectives. Fertil Steril. 1991 Jul;56(1):1-13. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)54407-0. No abstract available.
• Background Hall JE, Martin KA, Whitney HA, Landy H, Crowley WF Jr. Potential for fertility with replacement of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone in long term female survivors of cranial tumors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Oct;79(4):1166-72. doi: 10.1210/jcem.79.4.7962290.
• Background Seminara SB, Beranova M, Oliveira LM, Martin KA, Crowley WF Jr, Hall JE. Successful use of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for ovulation induction and pregnancy in a patient with GnRH receptor mutations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Feb;85(2):556-62. doi: 10.1210/jcem.85.2.6357.
• Background Lavoie HB, Martin KA, Taylor E, Crowley WF, Hall JE. Exaggerated free alpha-subunit levels during pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone replacement in women with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998 Jan;83(1):241-7. doi: 10.1210/jcem.83.1.4488.
• Background Nestler JE, Jakubowicz DJ, Evans WS, Pasquali R. Effects of metformin on spontaneous and clomiphene-induced ovulation in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1998 Jun 25;338(26):1876-80. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199806253382603.
• Background De Leo V, la Marca A, Ditto A, Morgante G, Cianci A. Effects of metformin on gonadotropin-induced ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 1999 Aug;72(2):282-5. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00208-3.
• Background Hopkins CC, Hall JE, Santoro NF, Martin KA, Filicori M, Crowley WF Jr. Closed intravenous administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone: safety of extended peripheral intravenous catheterization. Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Aug;74(2):267-70.
• Background Coetzee EJ, Jackson WP. Pregnancy in established non-insulin-dependent diabetics. A five-and-a-half year study at Groote Schuur Hospital. S Afr Med J. 1980 Nov 15;58(20):795-802.
• Background Coetzee EJ, Jackson WP. Oral hypoglycaemics in the first trimester and fetal outcome. S Afr Med J. 1984 Apr 21;65(16):635-7.
• Delaney A, Volochayev R, Meader B, Lee J, Almpani K, Noukelak GY, Henkind J, Chalmers L, Law JR, Williamson KA, Jacobsen CM, Buitrago TP, Perez O, Cho CH, Kaindl A, Rauch A, Steindl K, Garcia JE, Russell BE, Prasad R, Mondal UK, Reigstad HM, Clements S, Kim S, Inoue K, Arora G, Salnikov KB, DiOrio NP, Prada R, Capri Y, Morioka K, Mizota M, Zechi-Ceide RM, Kokitsu-Nakata NM, Tonello C, Vendramini-Pittoli S, da Silva Dalben G, Balasubramanian R, Dwyer AA, Seminara SB, Crowley WF, Plummer L, Hall JE, Graham JM, Lin AE, Shaw ND. Insight Into the Ontogeny of GnRH Neurons From Patients Born Without a Nose. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 May 1;105(5):1538-51. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa065.
• Abel BS, Shaw ND, Brown JM, Adams JM, Alati T, Martin KA, Pitteloud N, Seminara SB, Plummer L, Pignatelli D, Crowley WF Jr, Welt CK, Hall JE. Responsiveness to a physiological regimen of GnRH therapy and relation to genotype in women with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Feb;98(2):E206-16. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-3294. Epub 2013 Jan 22.

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