Use

11-oxo-androgens are emerging biomarkers for androgen production of adrenal origin. These biomarkers will be useful in disease in men and women and children. Although the presence of androgens with oxygen at the 11 position of the steroid backbone have been known for some time, the clinical utility and prevalence of these androgens have only recently come to light. As has been the case historically, the research has been enhanced with availability of good assay techniques, in this case HPLC MS/MS. 11-ketotestosterone and 11-ketodihydrotestosterone bind the androgen receptor as well as testosterone and DHT.1 The 11-oxo-androgens also follow the same metabolic pathways as androgens without oxygen at 11. Interestingly, the origin of 11-oxo-androgens is entirely adrenal. All of this is important because 11-oxo-androgens appear to play a significant role in some endocrine diseases.