Subnormal Plasma Adrenal Androgen Levels in Men with Uremia*

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Abstract
The 24 h mean plasma concentrations of 8 hormones were measured in 11 men with chronic uremia and 32 normal men. The findings confirm previous reports of subnormal levels of testosterone, triiodothyronine and thyroxine and elevated levels of lutropin, prolactin and cortisol. Markedly subnormal levels of the adrenal androgens dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA) and DHA sulfate were observed. The mean DHA level in the patients was 164 .+-. 46 (SD) ng/dl, compared with 330 .+-. 124 in age-matched controls (P < 0.0001); the geometric mean DHA sulfate level was 40 .mu.g/dl (95% confidence limits, 11-113) in the patients and 76 .mu.g/dl (95% confidence limits, 26-214) in age-matched controls (P < 0.005). The depression of adrenal androgen levels in the face of elevated cortisol levels suggests a biosynthetic block in the adrenal cortex at the step where the C-19 and C-21 pathways diverge, i.e., the removal of the 2-carbon side chain by C-17, 20-lyase. If a similar defect were present in the testes, it could account for the diminished synthesis of testosterone, which is a further metabolite of DHA in the testes.

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