Effects of ketoconazole on blood endocrine hormones

The fevels of blood testosterone （T）, estradiol （E₂）, LH, FSH, cortisol, AGTH, T3, T4 and TSH were determined in 14 patients with mycotic infections before, 10 and 20 days after the administrations of ketoconazole respectively. The level of T after administrations of ketoconazole was significantly decreased, E₂ slightly decreased, LH significantly increased, and FSH slightly increased; cortisol slightly decreased, and ACTH significantly increased; T3, T4 and TSH were not apparently changed, as compared with those before ketoconazole administrations. The present study indicates that ketoconazole may inhibit the biosynthesis of both testicular and adrenal steroids and thereby cause feedback increases of the productions of pituitary LH and ACTH.