Discontinuation of estrogen replacement therapy in GH-treated hypopituitary women alters androgen status and IGF-I

Abstract

Androgen levels are low in hypopituitary women and free testosterone correlates with IGF-I. Discontinuation of estrogen replacement in these patients induces elevations in IGF-I as well as free testosterone, and DeltaIGF-I correlated positively with Deltafree testosterone. These effects may contribute to the gender differences observed in the GH-IGF axis in healthy adults as well as in the responsiveness of hypopituitary patients to GH substitution.