RESUMO
PURPOSE: To analyze clinical manifestations and endocrinological aspects of the patients who visited our hospital to be examined for partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred forty-three patients were evaluated. History taking and questionnaires were employed for analysis of their symptoms. Serum total testosterone (T), free-T and other hormones were measured for evaluation of the androgen deficiency. RESULTS: The chief complains of the patients were categorized as psychological symptoms, somatovegatative symptoms, and sexual symptoms, accounting for 51%, 36%, and 13%, respectively. A depressed mood, hot flashes and sweating and erectile dysfunction were dominant in these symptom categories, respectively. The prevalence of the psychological symptoms and somatovegatative symptoms was relatively high in the 30-50-year-old and 60-70-year-old groups, respectively. The free-T, but not total-T, was significantly decreased with aging as measured by the RIA method. Twenty one percent of the patients showed a lower total-T level than the normal range (2.7-10.7 ng/ml). The percentage of those with a total-T level lower than 2.0 ng/dl, which is the criterion for T-replacement recommended by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines, was 9%. Eighty two percent and 30% of the patients had lower free-T levels than the normal range (15.2-43.5 pg/ml) and that of men in their twenties in the Canadian data (9.3-26.5 pg/ml). Depending on the criteria of androgen deficiency, not all patients had low total-T and free-T levels. CONCLUSION: Patients suspected of having PADAM present various clinical symptoms and endocrinological aspects.
