Fluctuations of testosterone in acute coronary syndrome

Objective: Fluctuations of serum testosterone after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are infrequently reported. This study was done to determine the optimal time point for blood sampling for testosterone levels after ACS and to observe the trend of serial estimates of testosterone up to 12 weeks (84 days) following the acute event.

Methods: Eight patients with ACS; five with ST-segment-elevated-myocardial infarction (STEMI) and three with unstable angina (UA) were included. Five blood samples were taken; on admission (day one), day three, day 24 and day 84 (12 weeks) later. Serum total testosterone (TT) was estimated by radioimmunoassay.

Results: Mean age was 53±5 years. Mean serum TT level on admission (day one) was 3.60±1.74 ng/mL and on day three, it was 3.98±2.04 ng/mL. The values rose to 5.09±2.24 ng/mL on day five and peaked to 6.17±2.98 ng/mL at 24 days after. Thereafter, the TT levels declined to a mean level of 4.14±2.06 ng/ mL by 12 weeks, similar to that observed in the first three days after the acute episode. No significant difference was observed between the mean TT levels on admission, day three and at day 84 (p = 0.407, p = 0.628).

Conclusion: Serum testosterone fluctuates after ACS. The optimal time to obtain blood for total testosterone level that represents baseline appears to be within the first three days from the onset of the event.

Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism 2013; 3: 8-11

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sjdem.v3i1.5470