Elevated serum estradiol/testosterone ratio in men with primary varicose veins compared with a healthy control group.
The role of sex hormones in men with varicose veins remains unclear. Therefore, we set up a prospective pilot-study. In 34 men, venous blood was sampled during morning hours, for the determination of serum estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrostendion, androstendion, and free testosterone (fT). Serum E2:fT ratio was calculated. The study protocol also included patient history, physical examination, color duplex ultrasound of both limbs, and assignment of CEAP clinical stage (C) classification. About 21 symptomatic varicose men (VM [C > or = 2] mean age of 40.3/+6.9 years) and 13 healthy men (HM [C < or = 1] mean age of 38.1/+ 7.4 years) were analyzed. The serum E2:fT ratio (VM 2.83/+ 0.79 and HM 2.32/+0.63) was significantly different (P < .05) between the two groups. No major differences were seen on the serum levels of the sex hormones. In summary, our results demonstrate a changed serum E2:fT ratio among men with varicose veins compared to healthy men. By the fact of a small study sample, the interpretabillity of this result is limited.
Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, AöR, Germany. michael.kendler@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
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D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000097:blood*
D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate