HORMONAL PROFILES IN ELDERLY WOMEN AND PO TENTIAL INFLUENCING FACTORS

In 136 women with a median age of 78 (60 (60 - 98) years the serum con centrations of FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol-17beta, testosterone and DHEA-S were determined completed by GnRH and ACTH stimulation tests in a subgroup. This resulted in median values for FSH of 15.8 ng/ml, LH 6.4 ng/ml, prolactin 6.9 ng/ml, estradiol 16 pg/ml, testosterone 270 p g/ml and 306 ng/ml for DHEA-S. No correlation with age in this populat ion was found for gonadotroping as well as the other hormones for an a ge level of up to 98 years. Determination of multiple general clinical and laboratory parameters demonstrate the significance particularly i n a geriatric group of patients to consider these patient characterist ics when interpreting the serum hormone levels. In summary, the result s of this prospective study underline the importance for health, of th e secretion of gonadotropic and sexual hormones even at a very advance d age.