Excretion of corticosteroid-binding globulin, thyroxine-binding globulin and total protein in adult males with nephrosis: effects of sex hormones.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and total protein were studied in 6 adult males with the nephrotic syndrome. Significant losses of both CBG and TBG occurred in these patients, representing plasma clearances of up to 1200 ml/day. Despite low to low-normal plasma thyroxine concentrations, the mean TBG concentration in this group was the same as the normal mean. This was in distinction to plasma CBG and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid concentrations, means for both of which were well below the normal means. Diethylstilbestrol produced increased urinary losses of CBG in 5 of 5 subjects treated and of TBG in 4 of 5 subjects. Also increased was total protein excretion in all 5 subjects. Methandrostenolone [δ1-dehydro-17αmethyltestosterone (Dianabol)] decreased TBG excretion (and slightly decreased total protein excretion) in 3 of 3 subjects studied but did not change excretion of CBG.