Correlation of serum testosterone and testicular volume in patients with cirrhosis

 

Abstract              Background: There are certain features of liver disease such as the 'characteristic' skin changes which are attributed to altered hormone metabolism. The close relationship between liver disease and the gonads appears to be obvious. Methods: Our study is planned to compare the serum testosterone and testicular volume between the cirrhotic patients and age matched healthy normal controls and between Alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients and Non-Alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients. Results: We found the serum testosterone level and testicular volume was significantly low in cirrhotic patients compared to the age matched healthy normal controls. Conclusion: In cirrhotic patients, the serum testosterone level was significantly lower side compared to the controls and the testicular volume also was in the lower side. This may explain the pathophysiology of hypogonadism in male cirrhotics. Some of these patients had the significant testicular atrophy but the testosterone level and testicular volume were not correlated with the severity of the disease as defined by child-Pugh’s classification

Key Words: Alcoholic cirrhosis, Nonalcoholic cirrhosis, Serum testosterone, Testicular volume.