GONADAL-PITUITARY HORMONE LEVELS IN GYNAECOMASTIA

Abstract

Plasma levels of LH [lutropin], FSH [follitropin], estradiol-17.beta. and testosterone were measured in 22 men with gynecomastia. The group was divided by age into those under and those over 50 yr old and the mean hormone levels of the 2 groups were compared with 2 groups of age-matched normal men. In the young men with gynecomastia LH and consequently the LH:FSH ratio was lower than in controls. Older patients with gynecomastia had higher values of both LH and FSH than normal controls but the LH:FSH ratio was similar in the 2 groups. A pulsatile LH pattern was present only in the young controls. Older controls had higher FSH levels than younger controls. In older men with gynecomastia estradiol levels and the estradiol: testosterone ratio were higher than in those without.