Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 1999 , Vol 2 , Num 3

Romatoid Artrit ve Ankilozan SpondilitliErkek Hastalarda GonadalSeks Hormonları

Halil Uçan 1 ,Ümit Seçkin 2 ,Pınar Borman 3 ,Ayşegül Vuran 4
1 Turkish Ministry of Health, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
2 Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 2. Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara
3 Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara
4 Ankara Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara

This study was carried out to assess the gonadalsexhormonalstatus in male RA and AS patients in comparison with healthy control subjects. 21 AS, 19 RA and 15 controlsubjects with a mean age of 45.6+11.1, 38.5+12.2 and 40.2+9.11 years respectively were included. Data about the duration of disease, pain intensity and cilinical symptoms were recorded. The clnical activity of RA patients were assessed by Steinbrocker classification and laboratory findings including ESR, CRP and RF. The restriction of motion was assessed by the measurement of modifield Schoeber, finger-toe distance and chest expansion. Serum concentrations of total testosterone, free testosterone, FSH, LH, estradiol, prolactin and progesterone were measured in the patient and control group. The serum concentrations of FT was significantlylower and the levels of LH and estradiol were higher in RA group than in AS and control subjects. FSH levels were also higher in RA group compared with AS and control subjects but the difference was not statistically significant. There was a positive correlation between LH and functional activity scores and FSH and CRP values. In conclusion the low serum testosterone and associated elevation of the gonadotropin levels in patients with RA, indicating a disregulation of gonadal hormones were correlated with the disease activity, we can conclude that hipogonadal male patients might be at risk in developing more severe rheumatoid disease. Further studies are required to establish the importance of these findings and to understand thepotential therapeutic role of these hormones in RA

Keywords : Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gonadal sex hormones.