Sex Hormones in Males and Females with Active Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the role of sex hormones in male and female patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), a disease with a pronounced male predilection. METHODS: A total of 206 chronic CSC patients (183 males, 23 females) and 59 healthy controls (29 males, 30 females) were enrolled. Serum testosterone, estradiol, albumin, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels were determined using immunoassays. The free fraction of testosterone and the free testosterone/estradiol ratio were calculated. RESULTS: No differences in the levels of total testosterone and estradiol were observed between CSC patients and healthy controls. Albumin levels were found to be lower in male CSC patients compared to controls (controls 47.8 g/L, patients 46.0 g/L, adj. p = 0.006). Only in females with CSC, sex hormone-binding globulin levels were found to be lower (controls 94.2 nmol/L, patients 50.4 nmol/L, adj. p = 0.001), together with a higher free testosterone/estradiol ratio (controls 0.06, patients 0.18, adj. p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we did not find evidence for a disturbance in sex hormone levels in males with CSC. The lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin in females with CSC, leading to a disturbed free testosterone/estradiol ratio, warrant further investigation into the role of androgens in females with CSC.