Endocrine assessment of impotence--pitfalls of measuring serum testosterone without sex-hormone-binding globulin.
The pitfalls of measuring only total serum testosterone are illustrated by a 52 year old man whose hyperprolactinaemia was associated with normal total serum testosterone but a raised sex-hormone-binding globulin, giving a low free testosterone. Prolactin suppression with bromocriptine normalized sex-hormone-binding globulin and free testosterone, and restored potency and energy after 30 years of impotence and tiredness.
Hardy
K J
KJ
Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Seckl
J R
JR
D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013739:Testosterone