Eur J Endocrinol
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

DOI: 10.1530/EJE-07-0663
European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol 158, Issue 5, 741-747
Copyright © 2008 by European Society of Endocrinology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (9)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Loves, S.
Right arrow Articles by de Boer, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Loves, S.
Right arrow Articles by de Boer, H.
CLINICAL STUDIES

Letrozole once a week normalizes serum testosterone in obesity-related male hypogonadism

Sandra Loves1, Janneke Ruinemans-Koerts2 and Hans de Boer1

Departments of1 , Internal Medicine2 Clinical Chemistry, Ziekenhuis Rijnstate, Wagnerlaan 55, 6800 TA Arnhem, The Netherlands

(Correspondence should be addressed to H de Boer; Email: hdeboer{at}alysis.nl)

Objective: Isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) is frequently observed in severely obese men, probably as a result of increased estradiol (E2) production and E2-mediated negative feedback on pituitary LH secretion. Aromatase inhibitors can reverse this process. This study evaluates whether letrozole once a week can normalize serum testosterone in severely obese men and maintain its long term effect.

Design: Open, uncontrolled 6-month pilot study in 12 severely obese men (body mass index>35.0 kg/m2) with obesity-related IHH and free testosterone levels <225 pmol/l, treated with 2.5 mg letrozole once a week for 6 months.

Results: Six weeks of treatment reduced total E2 from 123±11 to 58±7 pmol/l (P<0.001, mean±S.E.M.), and increased serum LH from 4.4±0.6 to 11.1±1.5 U/l (P<0.001). Total testosterone rose from 5.9±0.5 to 19.6±1.4 nmol/l (P<0.001), and free testosterone from 163±13 to 604±50 pmol/l (P<0.001). Total testosterone rose to within the normal range in all subjects, whereas free testosterone rose to supraphysiological levels in 7 out of 12 men. The testosterone and E2 levels were stable throughout the week and during the 6-month treatment period.

Conclusion: Letrozole 2.5 mg once a week produced a sustained normalization of serum total testosterone in obese men with IHH. However, free testosterone frequently rose to supraphysiological levels. Therefore, a starting dose <2.5 mg once a week is recommended.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 pdiHome page
S. Guest
HYPOTHESIS: GENDER AND ENCAPSULATING PERITONEAL SCLEROSIS
Perit. Dial. Int., September 1, 2009; 29(5): 489 - 491.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
T.M. Stewart, D.Y. Liu, C. Garrett, N. Jorgensen, E.H. Brown, and H.W.G. Baker
Associations between andrological measures, hormones and semen quality in fertile Australian men: inverse relationship between obesity and sperm output
Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2009; 24(7): 1561 - 1568.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
B Lapauw, G T'Sjoen, A Mahmoud, J M Kaufman, and J B Ruige
Short-term aromatase inhibition: effects on glucose metabolism and serum leptin levels in young and elderly men
Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2009; 160(3): 397 - 402.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 European Society of Endocrinology.