[Male hypertestosteronemia]

Presse Med. 1987 Apr 18;16(14):675-9.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Male hypogonadism is characterized by a lowering of plasma testosterone level below the lower limit of physiological variations. Conversely, some adult males, apparently eugonadic, have a plasma testosterone level much higher than normally. In most cases, male hypertestosteronaemia - defined by a plasma testosterone level above 13 ng/ml and due to various physiopathological mechanisms - is part of a wider pathological context. It betrays hyperandrogenism (elevated free testosterone) during treatment with androgens or chorionic gonadotropic hormone. In other cases, it seems to underlie a relative hypoandrogenism with rise of testosterone bound to transport proteins and/or excess of oestrogens. Hypertestosteronaemia therefore appears as a biochemical sign not to be ignored, but it also suggests that men with abnormally high testosterone levels present with new pathology and that aetiological investigations are necessary.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / physiology
  • Endocrine System Diseases / blood
  • Endocrine System Diseases / etiology
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Gynecomastia / blood
  • Humans
  • Hyperthyroidism / blood
  • Hypogonadism / blood
  • Male
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / metabolism
  • Testis / physiology
  • Testosterone / administration & dosage
  • Testosterone / blood*
  • Testosterone / physiology

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol