PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF SEX HORMONES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN NON-ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS

Sex hormone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were measured in the plasma of postmenopausal women with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n = 24) and compared with levels in matched controls (n = 21). Plasma oestradiol was elevated: 80 vs 30 pmol/l, P less than 0.005 (median values). Plasma SHBG was elevated, 15 vs 10 mg/dl, P less than 0.001. Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were low, 0.35 vs 2.0 mumol/l, P less than 0.0005, as were plasma androstenedione levels, 2.5 vs 4.5 nmol/l, P less than 0.05. There was no significant difference in plasma testosterone. These data suggest that liver disease per se alters sex hormone and sex hormone binding globulin levels in postmenopausal women.