A COMPARISON OF ANDROGENS DETERMINED BIOLOGICALLY AND 17-KETOSTEROIDS DETERMINED CHEMICALLY IN URINE (NORMAL AND ABNORMAL)*

Abstract

The correspondence of biologic assays of androgens and microchemical analyses of 17-ketosteroids was examined in the urine of 4 groups, i.e., normal controls, hypogonadism, hepatic disease, and gynecomastia. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.73) was found between the 2 procedures. The costly and laborious biologic assays of urinary androgens do not contribute much information not already afforded by the 17-ketosteroid detns. in the types of subject included in this study. The ratio of androgens to 17-ketosteroids was significantly lower in the liver disease and gynecomastia groups than in the normal and hypogonad groups, indicating that the proportions of the principal urinary steroid metabolites have been altered in these conditions. Urinary gonadotropin excretion levels were difficult to correlate with androgen and 17-ketosteroid values. High levels of gonadotropin excretion were uncommon and not necessarily associated with low androgen values.