Early blood test for KS / CHH - from birth to 6 months of age.

In both males and females there is a "miny puberty" which lasts from birth until 6 months of age. It is more apparent in males than females. In males it sets the body up ready for normal puberty to start at around 11 or 12 years of age.

In this short period of time from birth to six months of age there would be detectable levels of FSH and LH in the blood and detectable testosterone levels in males.

In males and females with Kallmann syndrome or CHH this miny puberty does not occur.
It works better in boys than girls but if there is a delectable level of FSH, LH, testosterone / oestrogen it would strongly suggest that it is not a case of KS / CHH.

The lack of detectable levels would not confirm a KS / CHH diagnosis but would be a big clue towards the correct diagnosis. Conversely if you do find the hormones present at that age it can be very reassuring that CHH / KS is not present.

If a blood test reveals no detectable levels of testosterone at 6 months of age and there has been either micro-penis or undescended testicles it would give doctors a very good indication that KS / CHH is a distinct possibility.

I have added here a one page link to a web site which also confirms the possibility of testing up to the age of 6 months.

http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=EN&Expert=174590