Suggested Cutoff Point for Testosterone by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after Stimulation with Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Abstract

The human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation test that evaluates gonadal steroidogenesis is crucial in the assessment of patients with 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). This study aimed to determine a testosterone (T) cutoff level that indicates an adequate testicular function using LC-MS/MS after stimulation with recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rhCG) in a single dose. Nineteen prepubertal children with 46,XY DSD and normal T secretion were evaluated. T and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were measured by liquid chromatography technique with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) before and 7 days after rhCG application at 250 µg. We suggest 0.89 ng/mL as the cutoff point for T after rhCG stimulation analyzed by LC-MS/MS.