02132nas a2200385   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653002800059653003200087653001000119653002400129653002300153653002500176653003500201653001100236653001900247653001800266653001800284653001700302653001200319653002400331653002500355653002500380653000900405653003200414100001400446700002000460700001300480700001100493245006500504300001100569490000700580520114500587022001401732       2003                            d  c2003 Aug-Sep10aAdrenal Cortex Hormones10aAdrenocorticotropic Hormone10aAdult10aBlood Sedimentation10aC-Reactive Protein10aCase-Control Studies10aDehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate10aHumans10aHydrocortisone10aInterleukin-110aInterleukin-610aInterleukins10aleprosy10aLeprosy, Borderline10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aLeprosy, Tuberculoid10aMale10aTumor Necrosis Factor-alpha1 aLeal AM O1 aMagalhães PK R1 aSouza CS1 aFoss N00aAdrenocortical hormones and interleukin patterns in leprosy.  a457-610 v253 a<p>The functional status of adrenocortical hormones and their relationship to the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in the lepromatous and tuberculoid poles of leprosy were investigated. Interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha plasma levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) were significantly higher in LL/BL (lepromatous) leprosy patients than in control subjects. 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. Both baseline and stimulated adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol plasma levels were not different between patients and control subjects. In contrast, adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) plasma levels were significantly lower in leprosy patients than in sex-matched control subjects. There was a significant inverse correlation between DHEA-S and IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP concentrations. This finding may be of pathogenetic significance in this disease and in other inflammatory states.</p>  a0141-9838