@article{30146,
  keywords = {Testicular dysfunction, leprosy},
  author = {Mashfiqul-Hasan  and Farhana-Quyum  and Atiqur-Rahman M and Sandesh-Panthi },
  title = {Testicular dysfunction in men affected by lepromatous leprosy},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Objective:</strong> To assess the levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in adult males affected by lepromatous leprosy.<br />
<strong>Methodology:</strong> This cross-sectional study included 40 men (age 41·78 ^ 13·35 years; mean ^SD) affected by lepromatous leprosy from leprosy clinics in Dhaka and Nilphamari, Bangladesh, who were either receiving multi-drug therapy (MDT) for leprosy (n ¼ 23) or were released from treatment (RFT; n ¼ 17). Clinical data were recorded while serum testosterone, LH and FSH were assayed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).<br />
<strong>Results:</strong> Serum testosterone was low in 12 (30%) participants, while 16 (40%) had a normal testosterone level but elevated LH and FSH. Testicular volume was lowest in those with a low testosterone level, followed by those with a normal testosterone but elevated LH and FSH levels, and highest in those who had all these hormones within the normal range (11·42 ^ 1·33 ml vs. 16·97 ^ 1·25 ml vs. 22·50 ^ 1·01 ml respectively; mean ^SEM; P , 0·001). The frequency of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) was observed to follow a similar pattern (low testosterone vs. normal testosterone but elevated LH, FSH vs. all normal: 83·3% vs. 68·8% vs. 33·3%, P ¼ 0·033). There was a significant negative correlation between the testosterone level and the bacillary index (r ¼ 2442, P ¼ 0·010) and the presence of ENL (r ¼ 20·331, P ¼ 0·037), and a positive correlation with testicular volume (r ¼ 464, P ¼ 0·003). LH and FSH also had significant negative correlation with testicular volume (r ¼ 20·554, P , 0·001 and r ¼ 20·601, P , 0·001 respectively).<br />
In conclusion, nearly one third men affected by lepromatous leprosy people had low testosterone. The testosterone level correlated positively with testicular volume and negatively with bacillary load and ENL.</p>
},
  year = {2017},
  journal = {Leprosy review},
  volume = {88},
  pages = {258–264},
  url = {https://leprosyreview.org/article/88/2/25-8264},
  language = {eng},
}