Serum levels of sex hormones in men with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the serum levels of total testosterone(TT), free testosterone (FT), estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and androstenedione (AS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the time of hospitalization, patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI), and patients with normal coronary arteries (NC) admitted for diagnostic coronary angiography.

METHODS: Serum sex hormones and lipid profile were measured in 79 male patients; 30 patients with AMI, 21 patient with OMI and 28 patients with NC. Ages ranged from 33-68 years. Androstenedione, estrogen, both total and free testosterone levels were quantified using coat-a-count radioimmunoassay kits. Sex hormone binding globulin was analyzed using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA)-count kits.

RESULTS: The levels of serum estradiol in the AMI were significantly higher and serum levels of TT, FT, and SHBG were significantly lower in AMI than in OMI and NC but there was no difference found for the levels of AS in all groups. Estradiol level was also higher in OMI than in control group but no significant changes found for other sex hormones in OMI and control group. Also triglyceride, high density and low density lipoprotein in AMI were significantly different from that in OMI and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum estradiol and low density lipoprotein levels are increased but TT, FT and SHBG levels are decreased in men with AMI compared with patients with NC.