PLASMA ANDROSTERONE EPIANDROSTERONE SULFATES AS MARKERS OF 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE ACTIVITY - EFFECT OF FINASTERIDE IN NORMAL MEN/

Plasma androsterone/epiandrosterone sulfates, dehydroepiandrosterone s ulfate, dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and cortis ol were measured in three normal adult men before and following finast eride administration (5 mg/day). Plasma androsterone/epiandrosterone s ulfates and dihydrotestosterone declined in parallel to 50% of basal l evels with little change in either dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cor tisol or androstenedione. The results suggest that the direct measurem ent of plasma androsterone/epiandrosterone sulfates by enzyme-linked i mmunosorbent assay provide similar information to plasma dihydrotestos terone and therefore provide a simple alternative for the assessment o f 5 alpha-reductase activity. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.