Gonadal function in male patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease.

Gonadal function in male patients with various liver disease has been evaluated by basal plasma testosterone level and a response of plasma testosterone to human chorionic gonadotropin. Compared with healthy male subjects of similar age, gonadal function was not reduced in chronic hepatitis, but in alcoholic liver disease without cirrhosis and in alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Gonadal dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis was correlated with abnormal liver tests. It may be concluded that gonadal function in chronic liver disease is reduced either by alcohol abuse or disturbances of hepatic function and/or hepatic hemodynamics.