Hostility-aggressiveness, sensation seeking, and sex hormones in men: re-exploring their relationship

To evaluate the relationship between sex hormones and aggressiveness, hostility and sensation seeking we studied 30 healthy males. Using a standardised technique of radioimmunoassay, we obtained blood values of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and the free androgen index (FAI). Personality was evaluated by the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory and the Sensation-Seeking Scale, form V. The results showed a lack of significant correlations between the measures of aggressiveness-hostility and hormones. Nevertheless, Spearman and Pearson correlations between Sensation Seeking and testosterone were positive and significant after controlling for age. Considerably higher correlations were obtained after controlling for LH and SHBG. A group of subjects with high scores in a factor made up of Experience Seeking, Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility obtained significantly higher scores on TT and FAI. Subjects with high scores in a factor made up of Assault, Indirect Aggression and Verbal Aggression obtained significantly higher scores in SHBG and TT. These findings support Zuckerman's personality model for the sensation-seeking trait.     

Effects of Carbamazepine Therapy on Serum Sex Hormone Levels in Male Patients with Epilepsy

The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) therapy and epilepsy on sex hormone plasma levels in male patients with epilepsy were evaluated by measuring the levels of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and by calculating the free androgen index (FAI) in 23 male patients with epilepsy receiving CBZ medication, in 18 untreated male patients with epilepsy, and in 19 healthy age-matched control subjects. No significant differences in the mean T or FT levels were found between the three groups, but the CBZ-treated patients had significantly higher SHBG levels and their FAI values and DHEAS concentrations were lower. The LH, FSH, PRL, or E2 levels in CBZ-treated and untreated male patients with epilepsy did not differ from the controls. CBZ monotherapy does not significantly change the serum balance of sex hormones; however, CBZ clearly affects the serum levels of SHBG and DHEAS.     

Role of sex hormone-binding globulin in the relationship between sex hormones and antisocial and aggressive personality in inmates

Plasma total testosterone (TT), free bioavailable testosterone (BT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHGB), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were analysed in a sample of 89 inmates. Also, the tendency towards an Antisocial Personality Disorder (AAPS) and Aggressiveness (based on an index containing three scales of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory; BDHI) was assessed. Results showed strong correlations between SHBG, total testosterone and free bioavailable testosterone. SHBG and total testosterone correlated with Aggressiveness (0.39 and 0.29, respectively), though the latter turned out not to be significant when SHBG level was controlled. The group with a high probability of Antisocial Personality Disorder and the group with high scores in Aggressiveness obtained higher SHBG levels. Recidivists and subjects already sentenced presented higher concentrations of SHBG. No significant relation was found for the free bioavailable testosterone. It is argued that the relationship between testosterone and antisocial personality and aggressiveness is mediated by the role of SHBG. We conclude that subjects with a disinhibited life-style tend to abuse intoxicants affecting the production of SHBG in the liver. This effect is observed in healthy subjects and delinquents, but more strongly in the population of delinquents.     

Serum Sex Hormones Are Altered in Patients with Chronic Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Receiving Anticonvulsant Medication

Summary: Purpose: To evaluate the changes in serum sex hormones of gonadal or adrenal origin, the gonadotropic hormones, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in men and women with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), who are undergoing monotherapy with carbamazepine or receiving carbamazepine in combination with other anticonvulsant drugs.
Methods: Gonadal hormones (estradiol, testosterone, free testosterone, and inhibin B), adrenal hormones [cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstenedione, and 17a-hydroxyprogesterone], and gonadotropic hormones (luteinizing hormone [LH] and follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]) were measured in 22 women and 26 men with TLE. The study also measured prolactin; human growth hormone and its major mediator, insulin-like growth factor–I; thyroid hormones (free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine); thyroid–stimulating hormone (TSH); and SHBG. The results were compared with those obtained from 60 healthy women and 106 healthy men.
Results: In the female patients, TSH, DHEAS, follicularphase LH, and luteal-phase estradiol were significantly lower than in the control groups, with prolactin and SHBG significantly higher. In the male patients, DHEAS, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, free testosterone, inhibin B, and the testosterone LH ratio were significantly lower than in the control group, with LH, FSH, and SHBG significantly higher. Increased FSH in 31% of the men indicates an impairment of spermatogenesis; lowered inhibin B in 12% indicates an impaired Sertoli's cell function; and the decreased testosterone LH ratio in 50% indicates an impaired Leydig's cell function.
Conclusions: The case patients had endocrine disorders, mainly concerning the gonadotropic and gonadal functions in both sexes; the adrenal function, with lowered DHEAS levels in both sexes; and lowered 17α-hydroxyprogesterone levels in the men. SHBG levels were increased in patients taking anticonvulsant medications.     

Effects of Carbamazepine on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Male Patients with Epilepsy: A Prospective Study

The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy on serum sex hormone levels and on pituitary responsiveness to various stimuli were evaluated in a prospective study with 21 male patients with epilepsy. The serum levels of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were assayed, and the free androgen index (FAI) values were calculated for each patient before and after 2-month CBZ treatment. The pituitary PRL, LH, and FSH responses to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and metoclopramide (MC) were also measured before and after CBZ treatment. The baseline serum hormone and SHBG levels were measured and the FAI values calculated in 16 healthy male control subjects of similar age. The mean E2 level was higher in patients before CBZ treatment than in control subjects, and untreated patients had greater variances for FAI values, PRL levels, and LH levels than control subjects. No other significant differences were found between untreated patients and control subjects. The FAI values and DHEAS levels of patients decreased during 2-month treatment with CBZ. The PRL response to MC was higher after CBZ treatment than before. The baseline levels of other hormones and SHBG, as well as the LH and FSH responses to LH-RH, remained unaltered. The results indicate that during the first 2 months of CBZ treatment the androgen balance in male epileptic patients changes: Serum DHEAS levels and FAI values decrease, although FT levels remain unchanged. The clinical relevance of these hormonal changes is obscure.     

Sex hormones, sexual activity and plasma anticonvulsant levels in male epileptics.

Testosterone, LH, FSH, PRL, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in 72 male epileptic patients on chronic anticonvulsant drug regimes. Sexual activity was estimated and plasma anticonvulsants measured. Total testosterone (TT), LH, FSH, PRL, and SHBG were increased; free testosterone (FT) was decreased. Sexual activity appeared diminished particularly in relation to reduced FT.     

男性癫痫患者服用抗痫药物后血清性激素水平改变及其临床意义

目的 研究抗痫药物对男性癫痫患者性激素水平的影响。方法 应用放射免疫分析法和免疫放射测定分析法测定应用多种ＡＥＤｓ治疗和未经治疗的男性癫痫患者及健康对照组血清睾酮,游离睾酮,性激素结合球蛋白,雌二醇,间质细胞刺激素,滤泡刺激素的水平。结果未治疗组与正常对照组相比,各项指标均无显著差异。各治疗组与对照组相比,ＦＴ水平均显著降低,ＳＨＢＧ水平显著升高;苯妥英钠治疗组的Ｅ２水平升高;而ＴＴ,ＬＨ,ＦＳ     

Antiepileptic drugs alter reproductive endocrine hormones in men with epilepsy

Disturbances of reproductive endocrine hormones are more often found in men with epilepsy than in the general population. There is an ongoing debate whether this can be attributed to chronic use of antiepileptic drugs or to the epilepsy itself. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the degree of endocrine disturbances in men with epilepsy compared with healthy controls, and to investigate whether there was a drug-specific effect of valproate (VPA) or carbamazepine (CBZ). Men with epilepsy, 20-40 years old, having used either VPA (n = 16) or CBZ (n = 19) as monotherapy for >2 years were included and compared with age-matched controls. Men with epilepsy (VPA + CBZ) had significantly lower FSH values and higher C-peptide values compared with controls. Regarding possible drug-specific effects, the VPA treated patients had significantly higher dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) levels and lower FSH and LH concentrations compared with the controls, whereas there were no differences in testosterone, testosterone/sexhormone-binding globulin (SHBG) ratio or androstenedione levels. Men on VPA also had significantly lower free carnitine/total carnitine, which may have implications for sperm motility, and also higher insulin and C-peptide concentrations. The CBZ treated patients had significantly lower testosterone/SHBG ratio than the controls. Compared with the CBZ treated patients, men on VPA had significantly higher DHEAS concentrations and lower levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as a lower free carnitine/total carnitine ratio. A marked age dependency was found in all three groups regarding several of the endocrine hormones. In conclusion, drug-specific endocrine effects of VPA and CBZ were found in men with epilepsy. Long-term VPA treatment leads to significant changes in DHEAS, FSH, LH, insulin, C-peptide and carnitine ratio. Long-term CBZ treatment leads to significant lower testosterone/SHBG ratio. A strict age matching were found to be of importance in the evaluation of endocrine function in men.     

Serum Steroid Hormones and Pituitary Function in Female Epileptic Patients During Carbamazepine Therapy

Ten regularly menstruating women with epilepsy were studied in a 12-month prospective follow-up study to evaluate the short-term effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on serum sex hormone balance and pituitary function. Thirteen female epilepsy patients receiving long-term CBZ monotherapy (mean medication duration 5.3 years) were also studied. Controls were 17 regularly menstruating healthy volunteers. Untreated patients had higher free testosterone (FT) and luteinizing hormone (LH) serum concentrations than control subjects, whereas the other parameters did not differ between these two groups. However, serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels increased and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels decreased during CBZ treatment. Although calculated free androgen index (FAI) decreased during CBZ therapy, the directly measured FT levels remained unaltered. These changes were found after 2 months and continued after 12 months of CBZ treatment. Moreover, patients with long-term CBZ also had high SHBG levels, low serum DHEAS levels, and low FAI values. Basal LH serum levels decreased during the first year of CBZ treatment and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH)-stimulated LH concentrations were lower after 2 months of CBZ treatment. Although the serum basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) levels were unaffected during the first year of CBZ therapy, the LH-RH-stimulated FSH concentrations and metoclopramide (MC)-stimulated PRL concentrations were lower after 12 months of CBZ treatment than before CBZ. Both basal and stimulated gonadotropin and PRL serum levels of long-term CBZ patients were unaffected. No changes were found in estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), or cortisol (C) serum concentrations during short or long-term CBZ treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sex hormone levels in drug-naïve,first-episode patients with psychosis

Abstract

Aim: Sex differences have long been reported in schizophrenia leading to the hypothesis that sex hormones may be implicated in the pathophysiology of the disorder. We assessed gonadal hormones during the fasted state in drug-naïve patients with psychosis.

Method: Fasting serum concentrations of follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, free-testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and oestradiol (E₂) were compared between a group of 55 newly diagnosed, drug-naïve, first-episode men with psychosis and a group of 55 healthy controls, matched for age, smoking status and BMI. Testosterone, free-testosterone and SHBG were compared between a group of 32 drug-naïve, first-episode females with psychosis and a group of 32 healthy controls matched for age, smoking status and BMI.

Results: Testosterone and free-testosterone levels were significantly lower in the patients’ group and SHBG levels significantly higher in the patients’ group compared to those in healthy controls. The two female groups had similar values in the hormones which were measured.

Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of lower testosterone and free-testosterone levels and increased SHBG levels in drug-naïve, first-episode males with psychosis.

• KEY POINTS

• Reduced testosterone and free-testosterone levels in drug-naive, first-episode males with psychosis.

• Increased SHBG levels in drug-naive first-episode males with psychosis.

• No difference in FSH, LH and E2 levels between drug-naive first episode males with psychosis and controls.

• No difference in testosterone, free-testosterone and SHBG levels between drug-naive, first-episode women with psychosis and controls.

     

绝经后妇女脑梗死患者性激素变化与胰岛素抵抗的关系

目的：为探讨绝经后妇女脑梗死患者性激素水平变化及与胰岛素抵抗的关系。方法：对３３例绝经１年以上妇女脑梗死患者（Ａ组）与２１例绝经１年以上无脑梗死健康妇女（Ｂ组）的血清雌二醇（Ｅ２）、促卵泡刺激素（ＦＳＨ）、促黄体生成素（ＬＨ）、睾酮（Ｔ）、血浆葡萄糖（Ｇ）、血浆胰岛素（ＩＮＳ）及胰岛素敏感指数（ＩＳＩ）进行检测。结果：Ａ组Ｅ２水平较Ｂ组明显降低,ＦＳＨ、ＬＨ、Ｔ水平显著增高。相关分析发现,Ｅ２与ＩＳＮ是显著负相关,而Ｅ２与ＩＳＩ呈显著正相关;Ｔ与ＩＮＳ呈显著正相关,与ＩＳＩ是显著负相关。结论：绝经后妇女脑梗死患者存在严重的性激素失调,且与胰岛素抵抗并存,可能参与绝经后妇女脑梗死发生和发展。     

Relationship between testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and plasma amyloid beta peptide 40 in older men with subjective memory loss or dementia

In a group of 28 older men with either subjective memory loss or dementia, serum total testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) correlated inversely with plasma levels of amyloid beta peptide 40 (Abeta40, r=-0.5, P=0.01 and r=-0.4, P=0.04, respectively). Calculated free testosterone was also inversely correlated (r=-0.4, P=0.03), and all three relationships remained statistically significant after allowing for age. A similar but non-significant trend was seen with dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), and neither luteinising hormone (LH) nor estradiol correlated with Abeta40. These data demonstrate that lower androgen levels are associated with increased plasma Abeta40 in older men with memory loss or dementia, suggesting that subclinical androgen deficiency enhances the expression of Alzheimer's disease-related peptides in vivo. An inverse correlation exists between SHBG and Abeta40, warranting further investigation.     

男性肝豆状核变性下丘脑-垂体-睾丸轴功能研究

目的了解男性肝豆状核变性（ＷＤ）病人下丘脑－垂体－睾丸轴激素分泌功能。方法用放射免疫法测定２６例病人血清垂体、性激素水平。结果孕酮（Ｐ）显著低于正常对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５），生长激素（ＧＨ）、黄体生成素（ＬＨ）、雌二醇（Ｅ２）亦显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０１），性激素结合球蛋白（ＳＨＢＧ）则显著高于正常对照组（Ｐ＜０．００１），２０例患者进行促性腺激素释放激素（ＧｎＲＨ）试验，发现腺垂体对外源性ＧｎＲＨ的刺激反应迟钝。结论ＷＤ垂体、性腺细胞中部分酶的活性降低，使二者激素分泌功能降低；同时肝的铜沉积扰乱了蛋白代谢，使ＳＨＢＧ升高，进一步降低了性激素的生物效应     

抑郁症患者的性激素分析

目的　研究抑郁症患者垂体促性腺激素及外周性激素的功能状态,探讨性激素水平改变与性有关症状和药物治疗的关系。方法　采用放射免疫法测定３０ 例（ 男１１ 例,女１９ 例） 抑郁症患者血清促卵泡激素（ Ｆ Ｓ Ｈ） 、黄体生成素（ Ｌ Ｈ） 、催乳素（ Ｐ Ｒ Ｌ） 、睾丸酮（ Ｔ） 、雌二醇（ Ｅ２） 等激素水平,并与２０ 例（ 男女各１０ 例） 正常人对照。结果　试验组男性 Ｌ Ｈ 和女性 Ｆ Ｓ Ｈ、 Ｒ Ｐ Ｌ 明显高于对照组,其他性激素水平两组间无显著性差异。药物治疗前后男性患者 Ｐ Ｒ Ｌ、 Ｔ、 Ｅ２ ,女患者 Ｐ Ｒ Ｌ、 Ｔ 等激素分泌改变非常显著。结论　提示抑郁症患者性腺轴存在功能失调。性有关症状与性激素水平改变无关。抗抑郁治疗可导致性激素分泌紊乱。     

精神分裂症患者性激素与认知功能的关系

目的:探讨精神分裂症患者性激素与认知功能的关系。方法:精神分裂症患者95例,使用利培酮治疗6周,分别于治疗前和治疗后进行雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(Prog)、睾酮(T)、催乳素(PRL)、促卵泡激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)检测、简明精神病评定量表(BPRS)评定和瑞文标准推理测验。结果:男性患者的E2、T、FSH、LH水平与瑞文测验正确题数、知觉辨别、类同比较、比较推理、系列关系正确题数均正相关;治疗后E2、T水平不再与瑞文推理测验相关。女性患者的E2、Prog、T、FSH、LH水平与瑞文测验正确题数、智商数、类同比较、比较推理、系列关系、抽象推理正确题数均正相关;治疗后E2、LH水平仍与瑞文测验正确题数、智商数、类同比较、比较推理、系列关系、抽象推理正确题数正相关,T水平与瑞文测验正确题数及所有因子正确题数负相关。结论:男女精神分裂症患者性激素对认知功能有不同影响。     

Aromatase inhibition, testosterone, and seizures

The effect of testosterone on brain excitability is unclear. The excitatory aspect of testosterone's action in the brain may be due to its conversion to estrogen via aromatase. We report herein a 61-year-old man with temporal lobe epilepsy and sexual dysfunction due to low testosterone levels. Use of an aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, normalized his testosterone level and improved his sexual functioning. Letrozole, in addition to standard antiseizure medication, was also associated with improved seizure control. This was sustained and, further, was associated with seizure exacerbation after withdrawing letrozole, and subsequent seizure improvement after restarting it. During the course of treatment, his serum testosterone level increased, sex hormone-binding globulin decreased (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increased, while serum estradiol levels remained undetectable. Letrozole may, therefore, have produced a central alteration in the testosterone/estrogen ratio, thereby impairing estrogen-mediated feedback control of the pituitary, resulting in the observed increase in circulating LH and FSH levels. This experience suggests that aromatase inhibitors should be further investigated as a beneficial treatment modality for male patients with epilepsy.     

男性痴呆患者血清性激素的变化

目的:观察阿尔茨海默病(AD)和血管性痴呆(VD)男性患者血清性激素及促性腺激素的变化。方法:老年男性共114人,其中AD 3 2例;VD 3 0例;无痴呆正常老年人5 2名。采用化学发光法测定血中黄体生成素(LH )、促卵泡成熟素(FSH)、雌二醇(E2 )、催乳素(PRL)、睾酮(T)的含量,并计算E2 /T的比值。结果:AD组及VD组患者血清T水平较正常对照组低,差别有显著意义(P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1)。VD组患者血清E2 /T较正常对照组显著升高;也较AD组明显升高(P <0 .0 1,P <0 .0 5 )。AD、VD组患者血清E2 、LH、FSH、PRL与正常对照组比较,差别均无显著意义(P >0 .0 5 )。结论:老年男性AD及VD患者血清T水平降低。     

Effects of ECT on prolactin, LH, FSH and testosterone in males with major depressive illness

Fourteen males with major depressive illness (DSM-III) received a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T), were measured 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after each treatment. The severity of depression was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) two to three days before the first and two to three days following the last treatment. Post-ECT levels of PRL and LH were significantly higher than pre-ECT levels across every treatment. Changes in FSH and testosterone were not significant. There were no relationships between hormone levels (first versus last ECT) and severity of depression, including sexual functioning. It is argued that the relatively greater increases of LH than FSH is due to an acute antidopaminergic action of ECT which acts selectively on the secretion of the former. The blunted testosterone response to the increase of gonadotropins may be due to ECT-induced hyperprolactinemia.     

Physical and hormonal profile of male sexual development in epilepsy

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the effect of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on both the physical and hormonal aspects of the sexual development of male patients with epilepsy. METHODS: One hundred thirty male subjects with epilepsy, their age ranging between 8 and 18 years (mean, 14 +/- 2.9 years), entered the study; all were taking AEDs. Anthropometric measurements [height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)], testicular volume, penile length, and pubarche were assessed in the studied groups, as well as measurement of the levels of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), estradiol (E2), lutenizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin (PRL), and the results were compared with those of a control group. RESULTS: In this study, male patients older than 16 years were significantly shorter than their matched controls. The mean values of testicular volume and penile length were significantly lower in the patients in the different age subgroups, and the pubic hair staging (pubarche) was delayed in the patients older than 16 years. The mean values of total testosterone, estradiol, LH, and FSH serum levels were significantly higher, whereas the mean values of free testosterone, total-T/E2, total. T/LH, and FT/E2 ratios were lower in the patient subgroups compared with their age-matched controls. There were no significant changes in the mean basal PRL serum levels in the patients compared with the controls. The present study demonstrated a reduction in the testicular volume and penile length, significantly lower mean values of free testosterone and total-T/E2, and a higher mean value of E2 in the patients receiving polytherapy in the age subgroup older than 16 years compared with those on monotherapy; however, there was no demonstrable effect of seizure control or the duration of illness in any of the studied parameters. CONCLUSIONS: There is a delay in the sexual development of male patients with epilepsy in the different age subgroups, with endocrine changes in the form of increase in the total testosterone, but the free testosterone is lower, and an increase in estradiol, with lower T/LH levels. Patients receiving polytherapy, especially those older than 16 years, were more likely to have delayed gonadarch and disturbances in their hormonal profile.     

Circulating Hormones and Pituitary Responsiveness in Young Epileptic Men Receiving Long-Term Antiepileptic Medication

Impairment of libido and sexual potency are commonly reported by male epileptic patients. This may be partly a consequence of medication. Circulating hormones were measured in 53 postpubertal male epileptic patients less than 45 years of age and in an age-matched control group (n = 40), consisting of 14 untreated epileptic patients and 26 unmedicated healthy subjects. A subgroup also underwent a combined gonadotrophin- and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (LH-RH/TRH) pituitary stimulation test. Untreated patients did not differ from healthy subjects for any parameter, and their data were combined for comparison with the treated epileptic patients. Total testosterone (T), androstenedione, and basal follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations were similar in all patient groups. Patients receiving more than one drug had higher sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (p less than 0.01) and lower free T and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) levels (both p less than 0.001) than controls. Carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy also reduced free T (p less than 0.05) and DHAS (p less than 0.001) and increased basal prolactin (p less than 0.01). In these two groups of patients, basal luteinising hormone (LH) was elevated (p less than 0.01), presumably as a pituitary response to increased T catabolism. There was a negative correlation between free T and circulating CBZ (r = -0.54, p less than 0.05) in the monotherapy patients. Phenytoin (PHT) was associated with a rise in SHBG (p less than 0.01) and a fall in DHAS (p less than 0.001). Basal LH was also elevated, but this just failed to reach statistical significance (p less than 0.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)