The Influence of Cyclosporine A Therapy on Sex Hormone Levels in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

In a study from 1994, researchers investigated the effects of cyclosporine A therapy on sex hormone levels in 11 pre-menopausal and 19 post-menopausal women with primary biliary cirrhosis. They found that pre-menopausal women had markedly depressed sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels, while post-menopausal women had elevated SHBG levels compared to standard references. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels were low in both groups, and androstenedione levels were higher than normal in post-menopausal women. Cyclosporine A therapy significantly decreased SHBG levels in pre-menopausal women and reduced both total and free oestradiol levels in post-menopausal women after 6 months, with no significant changes in other hormonal parameters. The placebo group did not show any changes, indicating that cyclosporine A induces specific sex hormone alterations in women with primary biliary cirrhosis.