01872nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001200080653002000092653001400112653003300126653001100159653002200170653002500192653002400217653000900241653001600250653001100266653001700277100001400294700001300308245006000321300001000381490000700391050001600398520111800414022001401532       1994                            d  c1994 Aug10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAtrophy10aChronic Disease10aEstradiol10aFollicle Stimulating Hormone10aHumans10aInfertility, Male10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aLuteinizing Hormone10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aTestis10aTestosterone1 aSaporta L1 aYuksel A00aAndrogenic status in patients with lepromatous leprosy.  a221-40 v74  aSAPORTA19943 a<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To assess the incidence of testicular atrophy by evaluation of hormonal status, testicular histology and sperm production in chronic lepromatous patients.</p><p><b>PATIENTS AND METHODS: </b>Forty-one male patients with a mean age of 39.5 years (range 16-57) were studied at the Leprosy Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, and were compared with 15 age-matched controls with proven fertility.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Reduced testicular size was observed in 51% and gynaecomastia in 27%. Of the 31 patients who were married, 15 were primarily or secondarily infertile. Twelve of 16 patients had oligospermia or azoospermia. The mean basal luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol levels were significantly elevated and the level of testosterone significantly reduced when compared with the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Whenever leprosy is diagnosed patients should be informed of the need for treatment of an acute attack and the need for routine assessment of FSH, LH, testosterone and oestradiol levels to detect hypogonadism and potential infertility.</p>  a0007-1331