Elevated 24-hour mean plasma concentration of FSH in men with cirrhosis of the liver.

Twenty-four-hour mean plasma concentrations of estradiol, estrone, testosterone, LH and FSH were measured in 6 men with typical alcoholic liver cirrhosis and in 17 age-matched controls. Plasma estradiol levels were markedly elevated in the cirrhotic patients, as has been reported before. Plasma levels of estrone, testosterone and LH did not differ significantly from normal. The most striking finding was marked elevation of the plasma FSH level: the mean value in the cirrhotic group was 19.5 mIU/ml (95% confidence limits, 13-29), more than twice the mean control value, 9.7 mIU/ml (95% confidence limits, 7.0-13) (p less than 0.0005). This consistent elevation of FSH in cirrhotic men may be due to a deficient testicular secretion of inhibin as a result of alcohol toxicity to the testes.