[Investigations on pituitary-testes axis in males with chronic liver diseases (author's transl)]

In 27 male patients (age 31--60 years) with chronic hepatic diseases--10 of which with alcohol-toxic cirrhosis (ACi), 10 with hepatitic cirrhosis (HCi) and 7 with chronic aggressive hepatitis (CHAH)--total testosterone (T) and total oestradiol-17 beta (E2) in plasma were determined before and after HCG i.m. as well as LH and FSH before and 30 min and 60 min after LH-RH i.v. T, E2, LH and FSH were evaluated by specific RIA. Basal T was significantly decreased in ACi in comparison to normals and to HCi and CHAH. The increase after stimulation with HCG was reduced in all patient groups. Mean E2 before stimulation was altered in none of the groups compared to controls. After HCG there was an inadequate response only in ACi. Before as well as after stimulation with LH-RH, LH and FSH were increased in all patient groups. Our results point to the following: In males with chronic hepatic failure a testes insufficiency often occurs, which may depend on the etiology and the stage of the liver disease. An additional pituitary insufficiency appears not to exist.