title: Testosterone concentrations in men on chronic glucocorticosteroid therapy.
abstract: To determine whether free (or active) testosterone concentrations are reduced in men receiving glucocorticosteroids for chronic inflammatory diseases, 17 men (mean age 55.5 years) receiving a mean daily dose of 16.3 mg prednisolone, and 13 control patients (mean age 52.2 years) receiving no prednisolone, were studied. Serum testosterone and the testosterone/sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) ratio were measured. The testosterone/SHBG ratio (a measure of free (active) testosterone) was significantly reduced in patients treated with prednisolone (p = 0.026), thus showing that glucocorticosteroids reduce free testosterone in male patients. This may be an important cause of glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis, and suggests an additional approach to bone prophylaxis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Skingle
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Crisp
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D011239:Prednisolone