Research Article
Testosterone and the Male Skeleton: A Dual Mode of Action
Table 1
Clinical parameters of men with aromatase deficiency or estrogen resistance.
| | Aromatase deficiency | Estrogen resistance |
| Age of diagnosis | Newborn, 24–38 yrs | 28.5 yrs | Bone phenotype | (i) Persistent linear growth | (i) Continuing linear growth into adulthood | (ii) Unfused epiphyseal cartilages | (ii) Unfused epiphyses | (iii) Delayed bone age | (iii) Delayed bone age | (iv) Osteopenia/osteoporosis | (iv) Osteoporosis | (v) Eunuchoid proportion of the skeleton | (v) Progressive genu valgum | (vi) Progressively worsening of bilateral genu vagum | (vi) Eunuchoid proportions of the skeleton | Hormonal analysis | (i) Serum estradiol below the range of detection | (i) High concentration of serum estradiol, estrone, FSH, LH | (ii) Gonadotropins and circulating testosterone ranging from normal to elevated | (ii) Normal serum testosterone | (iii) Impaired glucose metabolism | | (iv) Insulin resistance | | Effect of estrogen treatment | (i) Complete epiphyseal closure | No changes | (ii) Spinal BMD increase | | (iii) Skeletal maturation | |
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