Abstract
Summary
The levels of excretion of estrogens and 17-ketosteroids in the urine have been determined in 11 young adult males with acute infectious hepatitis, at frequent intervals, from onset of the disease to convalescence. In 9 moderately severe cases there was a significant elevation in the level of excretion of biologically active estrogens in the urine which persisted at a slowly diminishing elevation until convalescence was considerably advanced. There was no significant increase in the concentration of the urinary estrogens in 2 cases of hepatitis which presented only mild clinical symptoms.
Marked to moderate depression occurred in the level of excretion of urinary 17-ketosteroids early in the course of acute hepatitis, with a return to normal values considerably in advance of the period of diminished estrogen excretion and of clinical recovery.
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