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Free and serum testosterone levels in 276 males: A comparative study of rheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis and healthy controls |
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| Authors: | Dr T. D. Spector W. Ollier L. A. Perry A. J. Silman P. W. Thompson A. Edwards |
| Affiliation: | (1) Department of Rheumatology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, UK;(2) Department of Reproductive Physiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, UK;(3) Department of Immunology, The London Hospital, London E1, UK;(4) Department of Rheumatology, The London Hospital, London E1, UK;(5) Department of Epidemiology, The London Hospital, London E1, UK;(6) Bone and Joint Research Unit, The London Hospital, Ashfield St, London E1, UK |
| Abstract: | Summary A crosssectional study of testosterone levels in 276 males was undertaken. Of these 87 were RA patients, 48 males with AS and 141 were healthy controls. Free and serum testosterone levels were significantly lower in the RA males than in either the AS group or the healthy controls (p < 0.001). This difference was unaffected by age. No differences were seen in testosterone levels between DR1 or DR4 RA patients compared to those without these antigens. No evidence of hyperandrogenicity was seen in the AS group. The finding that males with RA have lower androgen levels than both normal controls and a disease group with inflammatory spondarthritis supports the hypothesis that male sex hormones may be a protective factor against the development of RA. |
| Keywords: | Rheumatoid Arthritis Ankylosing Spondylitis Testosterone HLA |
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