[Atherosclerosis and androgen levels in elderly males].
To observe the relation of androgen levels and atherosclerosis (AS) in elderly males.



Both carotid arteries and arteries of lower extremity were examined with Doppler ultrasonography. Those with arteriosclerosis and much atheromatous plaque were designated as case group, and those with normal results formed control group. Total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and estradiol (E2) were measure by radioimmunoassay, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC and TG were assayed by colorimetry, vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were determined by ELISA.



FT was significantly lower in case group than in control group (P<0.01), no differences were found in TT, E2. HDL-C in control group was higher than that in case group (P<0.01), TC and TG were higher in case group than those in control group (P<0.05). HDL-C was correlated positively and LDL-C was negatively with FT level, while both TC and TG in case group had negative relation with FT. VEGF was higher in case group (P<0.05), and it had negative relation with FT in both groups. TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly higher in case group (P<0.05), and they had negative relation with FT. sICAM-1 was significantly lower in control group than it in case group (P<0.01).



The normal androgen levels, especially FT, have beneficial effect in AS development in elderly males. Low FT level may be an independent risk factor in AS development.
Yang
Yun-mei
YM
The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Xu
Zhe-rong
ZR
Wu
Ling-jiao
LJ
Li
Zheng
Z
Gu
Hai-feng
HF
Zhao
Xiao-hong
XH
D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone