[Changes in serum levels of pituitary gonadotropic hormones in women with gallstones].

Serum concentrations of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) of 42 women with gallstones and 35 healthy women were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). It was found that the levels of FSH and E2 were significantly higher in reproductive aged-women with gallstones than in healthy reproductive aged women. The level of E2 was higher, but that of LH was lower in postmenopausal women with gallstones than normal postmenopausal women. The results of stepwise regression showed that the risk of gallstone in reproductive aged women was increased with rising serum levels of FSH and E2, but decreased with rising serum level of T. In postmenopausal women, the risk of gallstone was increased with rising serum level of E2, but decreased with rising serum level of LH. The data indicated that the formation of gallstone in women was associated with the dysfunction of pituitary-gonadal endocrine axis.