T/EpiT ratio

In addition, the influence of oral contraceptives as well as 5a-reductase inhibitors (common active principles in drugs used for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia as well as alopecia) was described. The first mentioned class of drugs leads to an increase of the T/EpiT ratio due to the suppression of EpiT elimination however, other parameters such as A/E and Adiol/Bdiol remain stable. The use of 5a-reductase inhibitors strongly interferes with steroid profile interpretations as particularly A and Adiol are significantly reduced and, thus, the formerly mentioned intra-individually stable ratios of A/E and Adiol/Bdiol are considerably modified. ... 

An epimer of testosterone, epitestosterone (17a-hydro-xylated testosterone), is produced by the testes and excreted as such in the urine in amounts approximately equal to that of testosterone(T epiT 1 1). Epitestosterone is biologically inactive, but it is not a metabolite, and is believed to be produced only by the gonads thus, it is used as a gonadal steroid marker. In women, the ratio of T to epiT is also normally 1 1. Urinary T epiT is useful in monitoring abuse of anabolic steroids by athletes because the ratio increases when any exogenous testosterone derivative is used. 

ADMINISTRATION. The injection or oral intake of testosterone significantly influences the steroid profile, especially the urinary concentration of T and, thus, the T/EpiT and A/T ratios (Table 6.4). Moreover, the increased urinary elimination of metabolites derived from T (including the glucuronide and sulfate of T and the glucuronic acid conjugates of A, E, Adiol, and Bdiol) combined with a reduced excretion of E and 5-androstene-3p,17a-diol was described, which can further substantiate... 

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