The effect of oral testosterone on serum TBG levels in alcoholic cirrhotic men

— Seventy-three euthyroid male patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver were randomly allocated to oral testosterone (200 mg t.i.d.) or placebo and followed for up to 36 months. Triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) and T4/TBG ratio were determined before entry and during follow-up. No significant differences were observed before entry or during follow-up between the two treatment groups. T3, T4 and T4/TBG ratio did not change significantly during follow-up, while TBG concentrations decreased (P<0.05). Using a multivariate test, it is demonstrated that testosterone treatment significantly reduced TBG concentrations in cirrhotic men with preserved liver function, like normal men, but not in patients with moderate liver dysfunction. The lack of effect of testosterone in patients with more advanced cirrhosis may be due to a decreased function of sex hormone receptors in their liver.