Abstract
Background
Sex hormones play an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Testosterone and estradiol have been reported to be down‐regulated in subjects with coronary artery disease and heart failure, but has not been studied in atrial fibrillation (AF).
Hypothesis
Levels of sex hormones may be associated with susceptibility to lone AF in men.
Methods
Fifty‐eight male subjects who had electrocardiographic evidence of paroxysmal or chronic AF and a structurally normal heart on echocardiography were enrolled. Subjects were excluded if they had been taking angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), or statins within 3 mo or had a history of coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, significant valvular disease, hyperthyroidism, or hypertension. Fifty‐eight controls were recruited from a healthy outpatient population. Serum total testosterone and estradiol levels were determined using a commercially available radioimmunoassay.
Results
Mean levels of testosterone were significantly lower in subjects with lone AF when compared with controls (476 ng/dl versus 514 ng/dl, p = 0.005). No significant differences were found in the estradiol levels between the 2 groups (31.9 pg/ml versus 32.4 pg/ml, p = 0.789).
Conclusion
Reduced testosterone levels may be associated with susceptibility to lone AF in men. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Keywords: testosterone, atrial brillation
Full Text
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