BACKGROUND: patients with primary amenorrhea and gonadal dysgenesia have higher serum gonadotrophins and should be submitted to chromosome studies. Karyotype studies may be performed in gonadal tissue or peripheral blood however, it is not yet established if cases of primary amenorrhea without signs of virilization need additional investigation of gonadal karyotype. PURPOSE: to analize the gonadal karyotypes (ovaries) from patients with primary amenorrhea and compare them to their respective peripheral blood karyotypes. METHODS: clinical and karyotype data of 12 patients were retrospectively analyzed from January 1997 to December 2003. RESULTS: when the investigation was indicated for primary amenorrhea without signs of virilization, the gonadal and peripheral blood karyotypes were concordant in 8 cases (7 cases 46XX and 1 case 46XY). One patient with virilization signs was the only case of discordant karyotype. CONCLUSION: the present study suggests that the gonadal karyotype does not bring additional information to peripheral blood karyotype in patients with amenorrhea and no signs of virilization. Although all previous studies had a small number of patients, it seems advisable to investigate the gonadal karyotype in patients with signs of virilization. The cost-benefit analysis could allow cost and stress reduction for patients, family and institutions.
Amenorrhea; Gonadal dysgenesia; Karyotype
