Hormone binding globulin levels in patients with hereditary angiooedema during treatment with Danazol

Five patients with hereditary angiooedema were treated with Danazol for periods up to 10 months. This therapy resulted in normalization of serum levels of the inhibitor of the first complement component and disappearance of clinical disease symptoms in all patients. Although a variety of hormones were measured, only those of the pituitary-gonadal axis altered during treatment: a moderate decrease in leuteinizing hormone levels and a sharp fall of testosterone in adult men were observed. In all patients, however, both sex hormone binding globulin and thyroxine binding globulin concentrations were considerably suppressed during Danazol therapy. However, levels of corticosterone binding globulin and thyroxine binding globulin concentrations were considerably suppressed during Danazol therapy. However, levels of corticosterone binding globulin remained unchanged. The fraction of endogenous testosterone not bound to sex hormone binding globulin invariably increased. The possible relevance of these findings to the understanding of the mode of action of Danazol both in these patients and in general, are discussed.