[Serum testosterone and cardiovascular disease in men].
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent the main cause of death in Brazil. Men die more of coronary artery disease and they have higher levels of testosterone than women. However, recent studies indicate that androgens can have beneficial and/or neutral effect in the male cardiovascular system. Low levels of endogenous testosterone have been involved with the presence of some components of the metabolic syndrome including dyslipidemia, visceral obesity, hypertension and thrombus formation process. Consistent data on the relationship between testosterone and vascular reactivity, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality in men are rare, with the results of available studies presenting contradictions. Large randomized and prospective trials are needed to evaluate androgen-specific function in male CVD so that better conclusions can be established.
Sá
Emmanuela Quental Callou de
EQ
Escola Paulista de Medicina, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. eqcallou@gmail.com
Sá
Francisco Carleial Feijó de
FC
Guedes
Alexis Dourado
AD
Verreschi
Ieda Therezinha do Nascimento
IT
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology
D013739:Testosterone