Sex steroids and steroid binding proteins in female alcoholic liver disease

Blood levels of sex steroids and steroid binding proteins were measured in 21 females with alcoholic liver disease and in age matched healthy controls and correlated to type and severity of histological changes in concomitant liver biopsies. In patients with liver disease androstenedione levels were high in contrast to the low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) and albumin. Normal levels of testosterone and total oestrone were found in the patients. SHBG varied independently of albumin and decreased SHBG levels were found in patients with steatosis. DHA, DHAS and albumin levels were negatively correlated to the total biopsy score and a positive correlation was found between DHAS and albumin. The higher levels of androstenedione were found in patients with mild histological lesions. The findings are thought to reflect alcohol-induced changes in hepatic as well as in adrenocortical activity.