Urinary excretion of oestrone, oestradiol-17beta and oestriol in patients with chronic liver damage.

Abstract

SUMMARY The urinary excretion of oestrone, oestradiol-17β and oestriol has been estimated by a chemical technique in nine men and three women with chronic liver disease. Combined oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol excretion was above normal limits in only two patients, both men. One excreted more than normal amounts of all three oestrogens; the other excreted more oestriol only. In addition, four men and one woman excreted more oestriol than normal, but this was not sufficient to increase the combined excretion of these three oestrogens beyond levels found in healthy controls. These findings are contrary to many published conclusions based on bioassay. Oestrogen excretion has been contrasted with the clinical findings. There was no correlation between increased oestrogen excretion and gynaecomastia. There was, however, a suggestive association of increased oestriol excretion, testicular atrophy, and a history of alcoholism. No association was established between an increased excretion of any oestrogen and the presence of ascites, jaundice, spider naevi and palmar erythema. Some implications of these findings are discussed.