Most investigators currently agree that a significant fraction of estradiol-17β is reversibly bound to albumin in human plasma (1–4). However, recent studies from this laboratory have disclosed an increase in the binding of estradiol in the plasma of a group of male patients with cirrhosis of the liver. All these patients had a significantly reduced concentration of albumin in their plasma. If albumin were the major binding protein for estradiol, one would have anticipated a decreased binding of estradiol in the plasma of these patients. In view of the unexpected observation it was inferred that estradiol is bound to a factor other than albumin (5, 6). This communication presents direct evidence for the presence of such a protein in human plasma.

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