Aromatase inhibitors

Abstract

Summary 626 Sex steroids and growth 626 P450 aromatase 627 Aromatase inhibitors 627 Aromatase inhibitors in growth indications 628 Future prospects 635 Key learning points 635 References 635 Non-randomized controlled trials, cohort study, etc. One or more well-designed randomized controlled trials. Systematic review or meta-analysis The enzyme P450 aromatase, catalyzes the aromatization of C19 androgens (androstenedione and testosterone) to C18 estrogens (estrone and estradiol). In premenopausal women estrogen is predominantly synthesized in the ovary through P450 aromatase, but in males, testicular aromatization of androgens accounts only for about 15 percent of circulating estrogen. The estrogen synthesized within extragonadal tissues, particularly in bone and brain, is probably biologically active only locally in a paracrine or ‘intracrine’ fashion.