Decreased adrenal sex steroid levels in the absence of glucocorticoid suppression in postmenopausal asthmatic women.

Background And Aim: Reduction of serum sex steroid levels has been reported to occur after the administration of beta-adrenergic medication. In that beta-adrenergic blockade is a central pathophysiologic feature of asthma, this study was done to explore the possibility of hormonal alteration in asthma.

Methods: Sex steroids obtained from 22 postmenopausal asthmatic and 22 age-matched, postmenopausal, nonasthmatic women were assayed.