[Abdominal pain and hypertension in a 55-year-old male patient]

A 55-year-old male patient under permanent testosterone therapy for hypogonadism presented with abdominal pain and increased blood pressure values. In the physical examination a plethora was noted and laboratory examinations revealed polyglobulia. In the subsequent diagnostic process polycythemia vera and cancer could be excluded as the cause. A secondary polyglobulia due to testosterone substitution was diagnosed. Unphysiologically high testosterone levels represent a rare cause of secondary polyglobulia and with an appropriate medical history should be taken into account at an early stage.