密切接触严重急性呼吸综合征患者的医务人员血清抗体检测和分析

目的　研究与严重急性呼吸综合征 (SARS)患者密切接触的医务人员的血清抗新型冠状病毒抗体水平。方法　采用酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA)法检测与SARS患者有密切接触的医务人员 ( 64名 )、健康对照者 ( 4 97名 )、社区获得性肺炎患者 ( 119例 )及SARS康复者 ( 4 6例 )血清特异性IgG抗体滴度。抗体滴度用吸光度 (A)的常用对数值 (lg)表示。结果　SARS康复者血清特异性IgG抗体滴度为 0 0 7± 0 13 ,显著地高于其他 3组。医护人员组IgG抗体滴度为 -1 18± 0 2 0 ,显著地高于社区获得性肺炎组及健康对照组。在健康对照组中 ,2 0 0 3年 5月在北京取血样 ( 163份 )的血清IgG抗体滴度为 -1 61± 0 13 ,显著地高于SARS发病以前的 2 0 0 1年的北京血样 ( 180份 )抗体滴度 -1 76±0 2 5和 2 0 0 3年 5月非疫区的山东血样 ( 154份 )的抗体滴度 -1 95± 0 44。在社区获得性肺炎 ( 119例 )中 ,细菌性肺炎 ( 90例 )的抗体滴度为 -1 99± 0 3 1,与传统非典型肺炎抗体滴度 -2 0 5± 0 2 3比较差异无显著性。结论　与SARS患者密切接触者血清特异性抗体水平升高 ,其意义有待于进一步研究     

髋部骨密度和几何结构与老年髋部骨折发病的关系

目的探讨髋部骨密度、股骨上段几何结构与老年髋部骨折之间的关系。方法老年髋部骨折组80例和正常老年对照组80例,摄双髋关节正位片测量股骨头直径(HD)、股骨颈最窄处的宽度(ND)、股骨头中心至股骨轴的距离(NL)。股骨小转子下方2cm处股骨外侧皮质骨厚度(SD-ID)。正常组取双侧、骨折组取健侧进行数据测量。根据身高体重算出体重指数(BMI)。DXA扫描测量股骨近端骨密度BMD(g/cm2)、股骨颈轴长(FNAL)、髋轴长(HAL)、颈干角(NSA)、股骨颈宽度(FNW)。比较骨折组与对照组观察指标的变化,提示彼此间的相关性。结果老年髋部骨折组与对照组比较:髋部BMD较对照组有明显下降、股骨外侧皮质骨厚度明显减小、颈干角(NSA)比对照组钝,股骨颈轴长(FNAL)、髋轴长(HAL)长于对照组,股骨颈宽度(FNW)宽于对照组,两组在(BMI)上差异有显著性(P<0.01)。两组在年龄、HD、ND、NL上的差异均无显著性(P>0.05)。结论髋部骨密度和股骨近端几何结构可以提高对老年髋部骨质疏松骨折危险性的预测。     

老年2型糖尿病视网膜病变患者骨密度变化的研究

目的探讨老年2型糖尿病(T2DM)合并视网膜病变患者骨密度(BMD)变化的特点。方法测定56例老年T2DM合并糖尿病视网膜病变患者(DR组)、60例无糖尿病视网膜病变T2DM患者(NDR组)和58例健康老年人(健康对照组)股骨颈、大转子、Ward's三角区(ward's)及前后位腰椎BMD,并检测血清骨钙素(BGP)、血钙(Ca)、血磷(P)、甲状旁腺激素(PTH)及Ⅰ型胶原降解产物(Crosslaps)/尿肌酐(Cr)水平。结果DR组的股骨颈的BMD低于健康对照组及NDR组〔分别为(0.66±0.15)、(0.76±0.15)、(0.81±0.18)g/cm2〕,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05及P<0.01);前后位腰椎各部位BMD在DR组BMD均高于健康对照组及NDR组(P<0.05)。DR组血清BGP显著低于健康对照组(P<0.01),与NDR组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);DR组血清PTH、P显著高于NDR组及健康对照组(P<0.05及P<0.01)。结论老年T2DM合并视网膜病变者的股骨近端BMD显著低于无视网膜病变糖尿病患者和健康人群,而腰椎各部位BMD水平则与之相反。     

体内回输骨髓干细胞对链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病小鼠作用的初步研究

目的探讨回输至链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导的糖尿病小鼠体内的骨髓干细胞能否在体内被诱导分化为胰岛素阳性细胞。方法将实验小鼠分为3组,即正常组、对照组(糖尿病组)和实验组(糖尿病并接受骨髓干细胞回输组)。待回输的骨髓干细胞取自3周龄雄性Balb/c小鼠,按改良的Verfaillie实验室的培养条件分离培养骨髓干细胞。STZ诱导的6~8周龄雌性Balb/c糖尿病小鼠为回输骨髓干细胞的受者。实验组小鼠尾静脉注射1~2×106CFSE标记的骨髓干细胞。观察各组小鼠血糖、体重变化。4周后实验结束时,取胰腺行Y染色体PCR扩增、胰岛素免疫荧光和CFSE检测,了解骨髓干细胞在胰腺的定位及诱导分化情况;计算、比较3组胰岛素免疫组化切片中胰腺组织胰岛面积和胰岛素阳性面积,了解体内回输骨髓干细胞能否诱导分化为胰岛素阳性细胞。结果实验过程中,实验组和对照组小鼠的血糖无明显下降,体重无明显增加,而正常组血糖保持在正常范围,体重逐渐增加;实验组中,胰腺组织Y染色体(n=6)的检出比例为6/6(100%);实验组小鼠胰腺组织有CFSE标记细胞检出,每视野下胰岛素染色阳性同时CFSE染色阳性细胞数为1.2±1.1;胰岛面积,实验组为(10172±6303)μm2,对照组为(9857±4444)μm2,正常组为(17175±10495)μm2。实验组与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义;与正常组比较,实验组和对照组显著小于正常组(均P<0.05);胰岛素染色面积,实验组为(474±380)μm2,对照组为(329±499)μm2,正常组为(1527±1788)μm2;实验组大于对照组(P<0.05),小于正常组(P<0.05)。结论在STZ诱导的糖尿病小鼠回输骨髓干细胞,有少部分可定位于胰腺,具备胰岛素阳性细胞的特征。     

5-羟色胺在胃机械感觉过敏中的作用

目的探讨5羟色胺(5HT)在胃感觉过敏中的作用。方法运用RT PCR半定量方法分别测定23例功能性消化不良(FD)患者(感觉正常组8例,感觉过敏组15例)和15名正常人近端胃黏膜组织中的5羟色胺酸脱羧酶(5HTPDC)、5HT转运体及5HT1A受体mRNA的表达情况。结果感觉过敏FD患者近端胃黏膜中5HTPDC和5HT1A受体mRNA的表达明显高于感觉正常组和对照组(1.275±0.136比0.730±0.106比0.710±0.142,P<0.05;1.402±0.140比0.834±0.094比0.816±0.047,P<0.01),感觉正常FD患者和对照组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。5HT转运体mRNA表达在三组间差异无统计学意义(0.895±0.160比0.833±0.184比0.886±0.257,P>0.05)。结论胃感觉过敏可能与近端胃黏膜中5HT合成增加及5HT1A受体表达增高有关。     

重症急性呼吸综合征患者心肌损害的初步研究

目的　通过对重症急性呼吸综合征 (SARS)患者心肌酶变化的研究 ,探讨SARS患者的心肌损害及其临床意义。方法　依据广东省传染性非典型肺炎病例临床诊断标准 (草案 ) ,选择SARS患者 37例和健康体检者 35例 ,检测血清肌酸激酶、乳酸脱氢酶、AST、肌钙蛋白Ⅰ、肌酸激酶同工酶、肌红蛋白。结果　SARS组肌酸激酶、乳酸脱氢酶、AST(单位均为U/L)明显高于对照组 (分别为 2 85 4 9± 2 6 6 2 1比 10 6 71± 4 3 38;388 5 6± 198 80比 2 0 0 83± 4 4 86 ;71 0 3± 36 14比 2 9 4 3± 8 89,P值均 <0 0 1) ;死亡者均值较存活者高。SARS组肌钙蛋白Ⅰ、肌酸激酶同工酶、肌红蛋白阳性率高于对照组 ,P <0 0 5。病理显示心肌细胞局部变性。结论　SARS患者易合并心肌损害 ,临床收治该病患者时应予以足够的重视。密切监测心脏功能 ,对减少并发症、降低病死率具有重要意义。     

超敏C-反应蛋白和C-反应蛋白的测定对SARS的诊断价值

目的　研究血清超敏C -反应蛋白 (hs -CRP )和C -反应蛋白 (CRP)对严重急性呼吸综合征 (SARS)的诊断价值。方法　SARS病人 2 0例、细菌性肺炎病人 2 0例、健康对照 2 0例 ,血清hs -CRP和CRP采用胶乳免疫比浊法全自动定量测定。结果　hs -CRP和CRP测定结果分别为 :健康对照组 (0 6 9± 0 6 2 )mg/L和 (4 4± 0 9)mg/L、细菌性肺炎组 (10 79± 1 36 )mg/L和 (98 0± 2 8 9)mg/L、SARS组 (3 16± 3 72 )mg/L和 (11 0± 9 6 )mg/L。三组间差异均有显著意义 (P <0 0 1)。结论　SARS病人和细菌性肺炎病人早期血清hs -CRP和CRP均升高 ,但细菌性肺炎病人升高更加显著 ,比SARS组分别增加 2 4倍和 7 9倍 ,对SARS与细菌性性肺炎的鉴别诊断有重要意义     

类风湿性关节炎病人骨矿盐含量与小剂量激素治疗的关系

为研究小剂量激素治疗和类风湿性关节炎(RA)病人骨质疏松的关系,作者对小剂量激素治疗的 RA 病人和未用激素病人以及健康人骨矿盐含量(BMC)和有关指标进行比较。病人和方法①小剂量激素(强的松龙<10mg/d)治疗组:女44例,其中绝经期前11例,绝经后33例;男27例。激素疗程和剂量分别为:男性5.2±4.7     

去势大鼠导致骨质疏松对骨拉伸与冲击生物力学性质影响的实验研究

目的观察正常大鼠和去势导致骨质疏松大鼠骨的骨拉伸与冲击力学性质,为研究老年人骨质疏松提供生物力学参数。方法选用290～310g5～6月龄wistar雌性大鼠20只,随机分为正常对照组10只,模型组10只。对模型组大鼠于0w摘除其卵巢。对正常和对照组大鼠饲养15w,以腹主动脉放血法处死大鼠,取大鼠股骨进行拉伸实验,取大鼠肱骨进行冲击实验。结果大鼠股骨拉伸实验正常对照组最大载荷为(129.2±18.6)N,最大应力为(30.8±6.5)MPa,最大应变为(2.12±0.7)%,弹性模量为(2561±84.2)MPa;模型组最大载荷为(85.3±16.4)N,最大应力为(21.7±4.8)MPa,最大应变为(1.23±0.4)%,弹性模量为(1428±105.7)MPa。结论模型组拉伸、冲击实验各项力学性能指标小于正常对照组。     

氧化应激在急性心肌梗死直接PCI后心肌灌注不良中的作用

【】目的 研究氧化应激与急性心肌梗死(STEMI)直接经皮冠脉介入治疗(PCI)后心肌灌注不良的关系。方法 选择连续就诊并且行直接PCI的STEMI患者148例,采集主动脉窦动脉血,测定丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,应用心电图ST段回落率及TMP分级评价心肌灌注。以稳定型心绞痛(SAP)40例及健康人40例作为对照。结果 148例患者中,心肌灌注良好组116例,心肌灌注不良组32例。STEMI组、SAP组和正常对照组MDA分别为6.20±1.62 nmol/ml,5.24±2.10 nmol/ml和4.08±1.48 nmol/ml,STEMI组明显高于SAP组和正常对照组(P<0.05),STEMI组SOD活性明显高于正常对照组(P<0.05)。心肌灌注不良组和心肌灌注良好组MDA分别为6.77±1.61 nmol/ml和5.92±1.55 nmol/ml,心肌灌注不良组MDA水平明显高于心肌灌注良好组(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果显示,MDA的OR为1.44 (95%CI 0.81~2.57 )。结论 氧化应激与急性心肌梗死直接PCI后心肌灌注不良有关。     

医院聚集性感染的重症急性呼吸综合征96例临床分析

目的　初步探讨重症急性呼吸综合征 (SARS)的流行规律、发病特点、临床特征、治疗及预防。方法　分析我院聚集性感染的SARS患者的临床资料。结果　SARS患者 96例 ,男 2 0例 ,女76例 ,年龄 16～ 6 2岁 ,其中医务人员 90例 ,占 93 8% ,均受感染于同一社区患者 ,同期发病。潜伏期1～ 2 0d ;初始体温 (38 3± 0 6 )℃ ,最高体温 (39 2± 0 6 )℃ ;持续发热 (9 0± 4 2 )d。主要症状有乏力、咳嗽、少量咳痰、畏寒、头痛、全身酸痛、肌痛。X线胸片显示肺部病变以双侧、中下肺野为主。6 7 7%患者外周血白细胞计数减少。鼻导管吸氧状态下最低脉搏血氧饱和度为 (94 8± 3 1) %。6 8 8%患者使用甲泼尼龙 ,初始剂量为 (6 7 3± 2 8 2 )mg/d ,最大剂量为 (82 4± 30 5 )mg/d ,持续使用时间 (4 9± 2 4 )d。痊愈出院 95例 (99 0 % ) ,住院时间 8～ 4 7d。结论　SARS发病可呈医院聚集性 ,起病急 ,进展迅速 ,X线胸片显示以双侧肺部受累为主 ,适时使用包括糖皮质激素、抗生素、丙种球蛋白、α 干扰素、抗病毒药物等在内的综合治疗可能有助于减轻病情或缩短病程。     

An indolent case of severe acute respiratory syndrome

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious and typically rapidly progressive form of atypical pneumonia, which spread from Asia to many parts of the world in early 2003. Clinical diagnosis of SARS requires the presence of unremitting fever and progressive pneumonia despite antibiotic therapy, particularly in the presence of lymphopenia and raised transaminase levels. We report the case of a woman who had undergone a successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant for acute myeloid leukemia. She presented initially with fever and a normal chest radiograph. Her indolent clinical course of SARS was punctuated by resolution of fever, but there was progressive radiologic deterioration and increasing serum antibody titer against SARS coronavirus. Treatment with oral prednisolone and ribavirin normalized her lymphopenia, altered transaminases, chest radiograph and high-resolution computed tomography appearances rapidly. Our experience should alert other clinicians in recognizing this atypical indolent presentation of SARS, to protect health care workers and the community at large and to ensure that these patients are properly treated.     

人工关节置换术治疗老年股骨颈骨折81例临床观察

目的探讨人工关节置换术治疗老年股骨颈骨折的临床效果。方法选取2005-08～2011-08老年股骨颈骨折患者81例(其中头下型28例,经颈型26例,头颈型17例,基底型10例),均采用人工关节置换术治疗。结果 1例术前合并有高血压和糖尿病患者,术后24 h脑卒中死亡。1例脱位属DorrⅠ类,经徒手复位成功,继用皮牵引治愈。其余79例术后1周左右可扶拐下地部分负重行走,1个月后可逐步弃拐行走,2个月后髋关节功能活动基本正常。80例患者伤口一期愈合。按sanders评分标准优46例(56.8%),良25例(30.9%),可9例(11.1%),差1例(1.2%),平均得分为50分。结论人工关节置换术治疗老年股骨颈骨折优良率高,且手术时间短,术中出血少,住院时间及卧床时间短,再手术率低,是临床上治疗老年股骨颈骨折的一种有效方法。     

Bone loss in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is less than expected: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the accumulating evidence of an increased prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the time course of bone loss is not well described, and there is little knowledge about factors indicating an increased risk of rapid bone loss. METHODS: We conducted a follow-up study in 80 IBD patients (45 men and 25 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women), 19 with ulcerative colitis and 61 with Crohn disease, with a mean follow-up time of 568 +/- 60 days, to assess bone loss, risk factors of rapid bone loss, and value of bone markers to predict bone loss. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bone formation by bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and bone resorption by N-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (NTX) and free deoxypyridinoline (DPD). RESULTS: Bone density changes per year were 0.46% +/- 3% at the spine, 0.06% +/- 5.1% at the femoral neck, -1.1% +/- 7.7% at the triangle of Ward, and -0.52% +/- 1.86% at total body level. Type and duration of disease, sex, age, and level of NTX, DPD, and BAP at base line did not show significant differences between patients who lost and those who did not lose bone mass. Bone loss was significantly higher in patients with (n = 28) than in those without steroids (n = 52) at the femoral neck and Ward triangle but not at the spine and total body. CONCLUSIONS: Change in bone mass in IBD patients during short-term follow-up is low on average, but there is great heterogeneity within the population, which cannot be explained by the use of steroids alone. Bone loss cannot be predicted by analysis of bone markers.     

106例重症急性呼吸综合征患者的临床特征与治疗总结

目的　了解重症急性呼吸综合征 (SARS)的临床特点以及探索临床有效的治疗方法。方法　用前瞻性的方法对入院的 10 6例SARS病例临床资料进行总结。结果　 10 6例患者男 5 6例 ,女5 0例 ;年龄 15～ 81岁 ,平均 (36± 10 )岁 ;多数病人都有发热 (98 1% )、畏寒 (75 5 % )、咳嗽 (71 7% )、头痛和胸闷憋气 (4 3 4 % )、腹泻 (2 4 5 % ) ,肺部有音者较少 (11 2 % )。WBC计数降低者占 34 0 % ,淋巴细胞计数减少者占 81 1% ,CD+ 4 T细胞减少者为 98 1% ,ALT增高者占 7 6 % ,血小板降低者少见(3 8% ) ;几乎所有病人在入院时或次日都有血氧分压下降 [<90mmHg(1mmHg =0 133kPa)者90 2 % ,<70mmHg者 2 8 6 % ];X线胸片表现为单侧局部肺部斑片状浸润者 34 0 % ,单侧多发肺部斑片状浸润者 11 3% ,双肺斑片状浸润者 4 6 2 %。临床治疗采取综合治疗的原则 ,包括以小剂量糖皮质激素 (甲泼尼龙 4 0～ 80mg,12h 1次 ) ,第二代头孢菌素、大环内酯类以及抗病毒药物为主 ,同时强调氧疗、对症及其基础病等的治疗。结论　SARS临床表现和实验室多样化 ,CD+ 4 T细胞测定有助于早期诊断 ,临床治疗以综合治疗为主 ,早期氧疗及小剂量激素治疗有较好的治疗效果。     

Maintenance infliximab treatment is associated with improved bone mineral density in Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVES: Diminished bone mineral density (BMD) is a recognized complication of Crohn's disease (CD). The mechanisms underlying bone loss are unclear but may include a direct effect of inflammatory cytokines related to disease activity. Because tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CD inflammation, we evaluated the effect on BMD of maintenance treatment with infliximab in patients with CD. METHODS: BMD of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and proximal left femur (neck and trochanter) were measured at baseline and 1 yr in 46 CD patients treated with infliximab (5 mg/kg) at 6-8 wk intervals for 1 yr. Thirteen patients received concurrent prednisone at a mean dose of 10 mg/day (range: 5-15). RESULTS: At baseline, reduced BMD (T-score 相似文献   

Analysis of risk factors for low bone mineral density in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND/AIM: Several risk factors have been suggested for osteoporosis which frequently occurs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We studied prevalence and risk factors for reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in IBD patients at the University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. METHODS: The BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and femoral neck in 88 IBD patients (55 with Crohn's disease, 30 with ulcerative colitis, and 3 with indeterminate colitis). Z scores were obtained by comparison with age- and sex-matched normal values, and T scores by comparison with sex-matched healthy young adults. Osteopenia and osteoporosis were defined according to the WHO guidelines. Predictive factors for BMD were analyzed by group comparison and stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: Osteopenia was present in 43% of the patients at the lumbar spine and in 42% of them at the femoral neck. Osteoporosis was present in 14% of the patients at the lumbar spine and in 5% of them at the femoral neck. At the lumbar spine, stepwise regression analysis showed that body mass index, age, number of bowel resections, topic steroids, and azathioprine correlated with the Z scores. Cumulative steroid dose, topic steroids, age and bowel resection were found to be predictors for a pathological T score. At the femoral neck, regression analysis showed that body mass index, age, topic steroids, and azathioprine correlated with the Z scores. Only a low body mass index was a significant predictor for pathological femoral T scores. CONCLUSIONS: Osteopenia and osteoporosis are commonly found in IBD patients. Steroid treatment and bowel resection were significant risk factors for osteoporosis of the lumbar spine. However, disease-inherent factors also appear to confer a major risk, indicating that the BMD should be determined in all IBD patients, irrespective of steroid treatment.     

Bone mineral density in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To study bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate the influence of disease activity and use of corticosteroids. METHODS: A cross-sectional study on BMD of 118 premenopausal women with SLE. Patients were divided into 2 groups, 74 who had been treated with corticosteroids and 44 who had not. BMD at lumbar spine, femoral neck, and trochanter was measured. RESULTS: BMD in patients without and with corticosteroid treatment was 1.13 +/- 0.13 vs 1.05 +/- 0.14 g/cm2 (p = 0.005) at lumbar spine, 0.92 +/- 0.12 vs 0.86 +/- 0.12 g/cm2 (p = 0.005) at femoral neck, and 0.78 +/- 0.13 vs 0.72 +/- 0.12 g/cm2 (p = 0.014) at trochanter, respectively. Stepwise multilinear regression analysis showed that corticosteroid exposure was independently associated with decreased BMD in the corticosteroid treated patients (r2 = 7% for lumbar and 6.6% for trochanter model). No significant difference in BMD in corticosteroid treated patients appeared when they were subgrouped according to whether they were taking calcium supplements. Prevalence of osteoporosis at lumbar spine in corticosteroid treated patients was 1.4%, and was lower than reported for age and sex matched Caucasians. CONCLUSION: BMD measurements were significantly lower in premenopausal SLE patients who had had corticosteroid treatment than those who had not. There was a negative correlation between BMD and corticosteroid therapy, but not disease activity. Prevalence of osteoporosis, based on lumbar spine BMD, was lower than that reported in Caucasians.     

北京市血液透析单位重症急性呼吸综合征发病及预防情况的调查

目的 了解2003年3～6月北京市血液透析中心重症急性呼吸综合征(SARS)发病及预防情况。方法 采用统一的调查表对北京市83家透析中心(军队医院透析中心除外)SARS发病及其预防措施进行调查。结果 (1)即时返回调查表的有81家(三级医院36家,二级医院37家,一级医院8家),共有透析患者2885例,工作人员673名。临床诊断SARS7例(7／2885,0．24％),痊愈3例,死亡4例,所有工作人员无SARS或疑似病例,无透析中心内部传播者。(2)所有透析中心均采取了额外的消毒措施。98．8％(80／81)的透析中心使用一次性透析器。98．8％(80／81)的透析中心对患者开展了SARS预防知识教育。90％以上的透析中心的患者透析前测体温、更换拖鞋和病号服。所有透析中心的医务人员在透析治疗过程中戴口罩、戴帽子,93．7％(74／79)的透析中心医务人员戴手套,22．8％(18／79)的透析中心医务人员戴护目镜。结论 参加本次调查的各透析中心均无SARS内部传播。加强环境消毒、医务人员的自身防护、对患者卫生习惯的教育,有助于预防SARS在透析中心内的传播。     

Bone loss in males with ankylosing spondylitis: its relation to sex hormone levels

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a common complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to assess the association of sex hormone levels with bone loss in males with AS. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. Patients The study group consisted of 58 male patients with primary AS. The mean age was 38.2 years (range 18-59 years). MEASUREMENTS: Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the left proximal femur. Serum FSH, LH, total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were measured. RESULTS: Bone loss was observed in 54.5% of cases at the femoral neck and in 52.3% of cases at the trochanter and total hip. Bone loss was found in 40 (69%) cases in at least one of these three regions. Serum DHEAS was low in 12 (30.8%) of the cases with bone loss, and one (5.9%) of those without (P = 0.043). The ratio of serum T/DHEAS was higher in those with bone loss (5.24 +/- 3.70) than in those without (3.58 +/- 3.16) (P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that bone loss might be related to low serum DHEAS levels in males with AS.