Pituitary-gonadal dysfunction in low-output cardiac failure

Diminished cardiac output and digoxin therapy appear to have opposing effects on testosterone, oestradiol and luteinizing hormone concentrations. Depression of the levels of these hormones was significantly correlated with a decrease in cardiac index and elevation was noted by digoxin therapy of long duration. The effect of cardiac output is most marked on testosterone and that of digoxin on oestradiol.