Laboratory diagnosis of late-onset male hypogonadism andropause.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate which factors influence the laboratorial diagnosis of late-onset male hypogonadism (LOH).


METHODS
Total testosterone (TT), SHBG and albumin were measured in 216 men aged 52-84 years. The laboratorial definition of LOH was two values of calculated free testosterone (cFT) <6.5 ng/dl, according to Vermeulen's formula.


RESULTS
At the first blood test, cFT was <6.5 ng/dl in 27% of the men. Laboratorial LOH (confirmed by two tests) was present in 19%, but TT levels were low in only 4.1%. Age influenced TT (p=0.0051) as well as BMI; 23.5% of patients > 70 years and 38.9% of the obese men who had TT within the reference range were, in fact, hypogonadal.


CONCLUSIONS
Especially in obese men and in those > 70 years old, SHBG dosage is important to calculate FT levels and diagnose hypogonadism.
Clapauch
Ruth
R
Hospital da Lagoa, Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Carmo
Aline Machado
AM
Marinheiro
Lizanka
L
Buksman
Salo
S
Pessoa
Isabel
I
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D047649:Andropause; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D000418:Albumins; D000728:Androgens; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D018120:Finasteride