Download PDF
Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1983; 82(4): 21-28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1210251
Original

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Tamoxifen on the Levels of Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Prolactin (PRL), 17β-Oestradiol (E2), Total and Free Testosterone (T) and Total and Free Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in Blood of Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

F. Stahl, D. Schnorr, W. Rohde, I. Poppe, Th. Geier, G. Dörner
  • Institute of Experimental Endocrinology (Director: Prof. Dr. G. Dörner) and Department of Urology (Director: Prof. Dr. M. Mebel) Humboldt University (Charité) Berlin/GDR
Further Information

Publication History

1982

Publication Date:
17 July 2009 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Summary

Treatment of 9 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia with 20 mg tamoxifen daily for 6 weeks resulted in a significant increase of LH (211%), FSH (215%), E2 (231%), total T (157%), free T (148%) and total DHT (148%) levels in blood. The increase of plasma free DHT (152%) levels was not significant and PRL concentrations in serum were unchanged during treatment. Comparison of the increase between total T and free T, total T and total DHT as well as free T and free DHT failed to reveal any significant differences.

These results imply (1) a marked anti-oestrogenic effect of tamoxifen at the level of hypothalamohypophysial axis (2) no effect at the hepatic oestrogen receptor sites indicated by unchanged SHBG-bound T and DHT in plasma and (3) no significant inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on 5α-reductase activity concluded from the T/DHT ratio in peripheral circulation.

In view of these findings, tamoxifen appears to be unsuitable for therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

      >