Serum steroids and prolactin during and after major surgical trauma

Serum levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulfate (DHAS), 4-androstene-3,17-dione (A-4), 17-alfa-hydroxy-progesterone (17 OHP), testosterone (T, only in males), unconjugated (E1) and total estrone (tE1 greater than 85% estrone sulfate) were studied in six male and two female patients before, during and up to 30 days after aortic graft surgery. All steroids except 17 OHP decreased following induction of anesthesia but, except for testosterone, rose again during surgery to preoperative levels or slightly above. Extremely high peak values for E1 and tE1 and a less pronounced peak for cortisol were noted on postoperative day 2; after that, the levels of these steroids returned to normal. The levels of 17-OHP, DHA and DHAS decreased after surgery and were below preoperative values from postoperative day 4 to day 16 or (DHAS) day 30. In males, 17 OHP showed a pronounced peak 30 min after initiation of surgery, but decreased after that to below preoperative values. Testosterone levels decreased further during surgery and remained very low until postoperative day 16. Major surgical trauma has a rapid, profound and long-lasting effect on gonadal activity, as judged from decreased testosterone levels, while the effect on adrenal steroids is less pronounced. Adrenal delta 4 and delta 5-steroids showed different patterns in the postoperative period, indicating differences in their regulation. The highly elevated estrogen levels on postoperative day 2 probably reflect either transiently elevated peripheral aromatization or decreased estrogen metabolism rather than increased levels of substrate steroids (A-4). The biological significance of this remains to be elucidated.