[Sex steroids versus lipid profile and the degree of coronary artery stenosis in men with angiographically documented coronary artery disease]

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the correlations between the levels of sex hormones and blood lipid profile as well as indexes of coronary artery stenosis in men with angiographically documented coronary artery disease. 111 men, aged 36-73 yrs (av. 55) were studied. In all the patients levels of testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), estradiol (E), SHBG, LH and FSH were measured. The level of bioavailable testosterone (BT) was calculated knowing SHBG level. Total cholesterol (TCh), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) levels were estimated as well as the degree of coronary artery stenosis was estimated by means of modified indexes. For statistics R-Spearman test was used. Summing coronary stenosis index correlated significantly with T-Ch and LDL-Ch levels. Positive correlation was found between blood level of E and TCh as well as between E and LDL-Ch. BT correlated partially with LDL-Ch level. No correlations were found between the levels of T, SHBG, DHEA-S, FSH, LH and lipid profile. The level of DHEA-s revealed negative correlation with age, while the level of SHBG increased with ageing leading to the decrease of the value of BT but not total T. None of studied hormones correlated with coronary indexes. Our results suggest that estradiol and BT may promote the formation of atherogenic lipid profile leading to atherosclerosis in men.