Normal testosterone plasma levels in non-abstinent alcoholics.

Testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were estimated in plasma of 32 male chronic alcoholics during a period of their usual alcohol consumption and compared to the values of 32 age-matched controls. T levels were not different from normals, while both PRL and LH were significantly elevated. The subgroup of patients with severe liver injury (n = 11) showed elevated PRL (2P less than 0.001), but normal LH and T, while patients with normal hepatic function (n = 21) showed normal PRL levels, elevated LH, and a tendency to elevated T levels.