Testicular dysfunction in leprosy: relationships of FSH, LH and testosterone to disease classification, activity and duration

Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in leprosy patients and analysed for effect of disease classification, disease activity and duration of disease. LH and FSH levels were found to be significantly elevated in...

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Published inLeprosy review Vol. 60; no. 2; p. 94
Main Authors Levis, W R, Lanza, A P, Swersie, S, Meeker, H C, Schuller-Levis, G B, Bardin, C W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.06.1989
Subjects
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Humans
Hypogonadism - blood
Hypogonadism - etiology
Leprosy - blood
Leprosy - classification
Leprosy - complications
Luteinizing Hormone - blood
Male
Random Allocation
Testosterone - blood
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Summary:Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in leprosy patients and analysed for effect of disease classification, disease activity and duration of disease. LH and FSH levels were found to be significantly elevated in lepromatous patients compared to borderline-lepromatous, midborderline and borderline-tuberculoid patients. A positive correlation was seen between LH and FSH and a negative correlation was seen between testosterone and both LH and FSH. No correlation was seen between hormone levels and measures of disease activity: bacillary index and IgM to phenolic glycolipid I, a Mycobacterium leprae antigen. A significant correlation was seen between duration of disease and FSH when age was taken into account, indicating that testicular dysfunction is probably cumulative and irreversible. It is recommended that LL patients be routinely screened for hypogonadism using FSH, LH and testosterone levels.
ISSN:0305-7518
DOI:10.5935/0305-7518.19890012