ANDROGEN–OESTROGEN IMBALANCE IN MEN WITH CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM AND FATTY LIVER

Abstract

The plasma concentrations of oestrone (E ₁ ), oestradiol (E ₂ ), oestrone sulphate (E ₁ S), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and apparent free testosterone (AFTC) were measured in 20 normal-weight men with chronic alcoholism and fatty liver. Twenty normal-weight male blood donors matched for age acted as controls. In the alcoholic subjects (patients) the plasma levels of E ₁ , E ₂ and SHBG were significantly elevated, whereas the concentrations of E ₁ S and AFTC were significantly decreased. No difference in plasma T was seen between the two groups. Both patients and controls showed a significant correlation between SHBG and E ₂ ) whereas a significant correlation between SHBG and T, and between E ₂ and T, was only found in the controls. Eight of the patients showed signs and/or symptoms of hypogonadism or feminization. Only patients with hypogonadism and/or feminization showed significantly higher plasma levels for E ₂ and decreased T/E ₂ ratio than matched controls. The ratio E ₁ S/E ₁ was in every case lower than in the control and tended to be even lower in the patients with hypogonadism and/or feminization.