Testicular Microvascular Flow Is Altered in Klinefelter Syndrome and Predicts Circulating Testosterone
Abstract
CONTEXT: Experimental studies on Klinefelter syndrome (KS) reported increased intratesticular testosterone (T) levels coexisting with reduced circulating levels. Abnormalities in testicular microcirculation have been claimed; however, no studies investigated in vivo testicular blood flow dynamics in humans with KS.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the testicular microcirculation in KS by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and correlate vascular parameters with endocrine function.
DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study. University setting.
PATIENTS: Sixty-eight testicular scans, 34 testes from 19 T-naïve subjects with KS and 34 testes from age-matched eugonadal men (control) who underwent CEUS for incidental nonpalpable testicular lesions.
MAIN OUTCOMES: CEUS kinetic parameters.
RESULTS: CEUS revealed slower testicular perfusion kinetics in subjects with KS than in age-matched controls. Specifically, the wash-in time (P = 0.018), mean transit time (P = 0.035), time to peak (P < 0.001), and wash-out time (P = 0.004) were all prolonged. Faster testicular blood flow was associated with higher total T levels. Principal component analysis and multiple linear regression analyses confirmed the findings and supported a role for reduced venous blood flow as independent predictor of total T levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Testicular venous blood flow is altered in KS and independently predicts T peripheral release.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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