[Study of the interdependence between prostatic hypertrophy and disorders in hormone levels. Preliminary report. 1. Study of blood testosterone]

Using the radioimmunological method and applying the double antibody separation technique, testosterone was determined in 14 patients and LH in a few. A group of men in good health aged between 20 and 60 years (22 persons) was used as a control and a group of men aged from 60 to 90 years (24 persons) in whom the size of the prostate gland corresponded to their age. In 4 patients, testosterone levels were determined before and after prostatectomy. It was found that testosterone levels in the serum of men aged over 60, in good health, were markedly lower. Patients with prostatic hypertrophy showed testosterone concentrations several times higher than the men in the control groups. Testosterone levels in patients with considerable hypertrophy of the prostate were higher than in patients with moderate hypertrophy. Adenomectomy had a remarkable influence on the decrease of testosterone in the serum.