SERUM LUTEINIZING HORMONE |[lpar]|LH|[rpar]| AND FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE |[lpar]|FSH|[rpar]| CONCENTRATIONS IN SUBJECTS WITH SICKLE CELL ANEMIA |[lpar]|SCA|[rpar]|

LH and FSH concentrations were determined in sera obtained from 40 subjects (20 males and 20 females; ages 5-16 years) with SCA (homozygous hemoglobin S). Mean LH concentrations were significantly increased above those of comparable age normal subjects in 5-8 year old males (5.3 ± 0.6 mIU/ml vs. 3.4 ± 0.6 mIU/ml), 5-8 year old females (6.7 ± 1.4 vs. 2.6 ± 0.3) and 9-10 year old females (6.8 ± 1.9 vs. 4.0 ± 1.3). The mean FSH concentration was also significantly increased in 13-14 year old females (12.8 ± 1.5 mIU/ml vs. 8.0 ± 2.9 mIU/ml). The LH concentration in 10 subjects (4 males and 4 females ages 5-8 and 2 females ages 9-10) and the FSH concentration in 7 subjects (all females ages 11-16) were > 2 SD above the mean of normal subjects. The observed increase in LH concentration during the first decade of life is consistent with impaired gonadal function and correlates well with the period of greatest morbidity in SCA. while the observed increase in FSH concentration may represent racial variation in females (Clin. Res. 21:866, 1973), it is also consistent with impaired gonadal function. Transiently impaired gonadal function may, in part, account for the variations in sexual maturation seen in patients with SCA.