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. 2012:2012:740603.
doi: 10.1155/2012/740603. Epub 2012 Dec 25.

A case of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism caused by opioid treatment for nonmalignant chronic pain

Yukiko Tabuchi  1 , Tetsuyuki Yasuda, Hideaki Kaneto, Tetsuhiro Kitamura, Junji Kozawa, Michio Otsuki, Akihisa Imagawa, Aya Nakae, Youichi Matsuda, Hironobu Uematsu, Takashi Mashimo, Masahiko Shibata, Iichiro Shimomura
Affiliations

A case of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism caused by opioid treatment for nonmalignant chronic pain

Yukiko Tabuchi et al. Case Rep Med. 2012.

Abstract

We report a case of 42-year-old male patient with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. He suffered from general fatigue and erectile dysfunction after the treatment with transdermal fentanyl for chronic pain by traffic injury. Endocrine examinations and hormone stimulating tests showed that he had hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no abnormal findings, and he had no past history of accounting for acquired hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Therefore, his hypogonadism was diagnosed to be caused by opioid treatment. Although opioid-induced endocrine dysfunctions are not widely recognized, this case suggests that we should consider the possibility of endocrine dysfunctions in patients with opioid treatment.

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