Dihydrotestosterone treatment in men with coronary artery disease. I. Influence on sex hormones, lipid profile, insulin resistance and fibrinogen.

The effects of three months' transdermal dihydrotestosterone treatment were assessed in eleven men with coronary artery disease. Concentration of total testosterone level significantly decreased (p < 0.01) as well as free testosterone (p < 0.05) and estradiol levels (p < 0.01), without changes of sex hormone binding globuline and estradiol/testosterone ratio. DHT regimen did not alter the parameters of lipid profile. No changes of blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA) and fibrinogen were observed in this group. The tendency towards higher levels of hemoglobin, erythrocyte count and hematocrit did not reach statistical significance. Short term DHT administration in aging males was safe for prostate.