Testosterone Levels in Umbilical-Cord Blood and Risk of Pyloric Stenosis

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is similar to 5 times more common in male infants. The male hormone testosterone is known to induce muscle hypertrophy, and the testosterone levels are several-fold higher in male infants than female infants. This study is the first of its kind, and the results add new insight to the etiology of pyloric stenosis. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that high testosterone levels at birth are associated with an increased risk of pyloric stenosis. (Read the full article)