Serum hormone levels in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The peripheral serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and total estrone (sum of free + conjugated estrone, mainly estrone sulphate) were determined in 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) aged 59--79 years and in 49 healthy men aged 58--79 years. There were no significant differences in the levels of FSH, LH and testosterone. The level of total estrone was significantly higher in the BPH group (p less than 0.05). The results are in accordance with our previous study on the urinary estrogen excretion in BPH and give additional support to the hypotheses concerning a role of the estrogens in the etiology of BPH.