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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gordon, D., Beastall, G.H., Thomson, J.A., Sturrock, R.D. Androgenic status and sexual function in males with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Q J Med 1986, 231, 671–679.
Spector, T.D., Perry, L.A., Tubb, G., Silman, A.J., Huskisson, E.C. Low free testoserone levels in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1988, 47, 65–68.
Chevallard, M., Angelini, M., Ambrosi, B., Travaglini, P., Carrabba, M. Sex hormone concentrations in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis: preliminary report. Clin Rheumatol (letter) 1987, 6, 609–610.
Borbas, E., Feher, K., Hejj, G., Gaal, M., Balint, G. Steroid hormone levels in peripheral sera of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. EULAR Symposium “Seronegative Polyarthritis” Rome 16–18 October 1986 p120 (abstract).
Dougados, M., Nahoul, K., Brasseur, B., Amor, B. Sex hormone plasma levels in ankylosing spondylitis. EULAR Symposium “Seronegative Polyarthritis”, Rome 16–18 October 1986, p121 (abstract).
Jaraquemada, D., Ollier, W., Awad, J., et al. HLA and rheumatoid arthritis: a combined analysis of 440 patients. Ann Rheum Dis, 1986, 45, 627–636.
Ropes, M.W., Bennett, G.A., Cobb, S., Jacox, R., Jessar, R.A. 1958 revision of diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Bull Rheum Dis 1958, 9, 175–176.
Anderson, D.H., Thorner, M.O., Fisher, R.A., Woodham, J.P., Goble, H.L., Besser, G.M. Effects of hormonal treatment on plasma unbound androgen levels in hirsute women. Acta Endocrinol (suppl) (Copenh) 1975, 80, 199–224.
Mansfield, M.D., Sommerville, I.F., Blacklock, N.J. Plasma testosterone in healthy men: study of nyctero hemeral and daily variation using gasliquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. J Steroid Biochem. 1974, 5, 665–671.
Bremner, W.J., Vitiello, M.V., Prinz, P.N. Loss of circadian rhymycity in blood testosterone levels with ageing in normal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1983, 56, 1278–1281.
De Lacerda, L., Kowarski, A., Johanson, A.J., Athanasiou, R., Midgeon, C.J. Integrated concentration and circadian variation of plasma testosterone in normal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1973, 37, 366–371.
Linos, A., Worthington, J.W., O'Fallon, M.W., Kurland, L.T. The epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis in Rochester, Minnesota: A study of incidence, prevalence and mortality. Am J Epidemiology 1980, 1, 87–98.
Davidson, J.M., Chen, J.J., Crapo, L., Gray, G.D., Greenleaf, W.J., Catania, J.A. Hormonal changes and sexual function in ageing men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983, 57, 71–77.
Grossman, C.J. Regulation of the immune system by sex steroids. Endocr Rev 1984, 5, 435–455.
Inman, R.D. Immunologic sex differences and the female predominance in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum 1978, 21, 849–852.
Golsteyn, E.J., Fritzler, M.J. Review: The role of the thymushypothalamus -pituitary-gonadal axis in normal immune processes and autoimmunity. J Rheumatol 1987, 14, 982–990.
Balleari, E., Cutolo, M., Giusti, M., Monachesi, M., Accardo, S. Evidence of reduced gonadal testosterone production in men affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Exp Clin Rheum 1987, s2, 307 (abstract).
Ivanyi, P., Hampl, R., Starka, L., Mickova, M. Genetic association between H-2 gene and testosterone metabolism in mice. Nature New Biology. 1972, 238, 280–281.
Spector, T.D., Ollier, W.E.R., Perry, L.A., Silman, A.J. Evidence for similarity in testosterone levels in haplotype identical brothers. Disease Markers 1988, 6, 119–125.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spector, T.D., Ollier, W., Perry, L.A. et al. Free and serum testosterone levels in 276 males: A comparative study of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and healthy controls. Clin Rheumatol 8, 37–41 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02031066
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02031066