The relationship between sex hormones and lipid profile in men with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Men are more prone to develop coronary artery disease (CAD) than women and the mechanism of this different susceptibility is not well elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum levels of several sex hormones and serum levels of lipoproteins, as well as the association between sex hormones and clinical covariates in men with stable coronary artery disease.


METHODS
Study population consisted of 111 men (mean age 55 years) with stable coronary artery disease. In all patients levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), estradiol, sex hormone binding globuline (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured and free testosterone index (FTI) was calculated knowing SHBG. Standard lipid analysis included total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. The extent of coronary artery disease was defined using semiquantitative coronary angiography score.


RESULTS
Significant positive correlations were found between estradiol levels and levels of total cholesterol (r = 0.31; p = 0.005), LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.32; p=0.004), total cholesterol/HDL ratio (r = 0.26; p = 0.020), and triglycerides (r = 0.24; p = 0.030), whereas no significant association was found between levels of these lipids and testosterone or DHEA levels. HDL cholesterol showed a significant association with levels of FSH (r = 0.23; p = 0.03) and LH (r = 0.25; p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate a possible role of estradiol in promoting the development of atherogenic lipid milieu in men with CAD. Simultaneously, the observed association between increased FSH and LH levels with increased levels of HDL cholesterol might suggest a protective effect of these hormones.
Wranicz
Jerzy K
JK
Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. holter@csk.am.lodz.pl
Cygankiewicz
Iwona
I
Rosiak
Marcin
M
Kula
Piotr
P
Kula
Krzysztof
K
Zareba
Wojciech
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D008074:Lipoproteins; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone