@article{7184,
  keywords = {Adult, Blood Sedimentation, C-Reactive Protein, Case-Control Studies, Cytokines, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Gonadotropins, Pituitary, Humans, Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6, leprosy, Luteinizing Hormone, Male, Prolactin, Testosterone, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha},
  author = {Leal AM O and Magalhães PK R and Souza CS and Foss N},
  title = {Pituitary-gonadal hormones and interleukin patterns in leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>The functional status of pituitary-gonadal hormones and their relationship to the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in the lepromatous (LL/BL) and tuberculoid (TT/BT) poles of leprosy were investigated. Gonadotropins [luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)], interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were significantly higher in LL/BL leprosy patients than in controls and were not different from controls in TT/BT patients. LH and FSH were positively correlated with IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and CRP concentrations and ESR. Testosterone plasma levels were significantly decreased in LL/BL patients and not different in TT/BT patients compared with controls. In addition, testosterone levels were inversely correlated with IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Prolactin plasma levels of both LL/BL and TT/BT patients were not different when compared with those of controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-alpha plasma levels and ESR and CRP concentrations. IL-1beta was positively correlated with ESR but not with CRP. The significant correlations between gonadotropins and testosterone and cytokines in leprosy patients suggest that cytokines may have a direct influence at testicular level and may be of pathogenetic significance in leprosy and in other inflammatory states involving reproductive dysfunction.</p>},
  year = {2006},
  journal = {Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH},
  volume = {11},
  pages = {1416-21},
  month = {2006 Sep},
  issn = {1360-2276},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01692.x},
  language = {eng},
}