02369nas a2200361   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653002400065653002300089653002500112653001400137653003300151653002900184653001100213653001800224653001800242653001200260653002400272653000900296653001400305653001700319653003200336100001400368700002000382700001300402700001100415245006800426300001200494490000700506520148000513022001401993       2006                            d  c2006 Sep10aAdult10aBlood Sedimentation10aC-Reactive Protein10aCase-Control Studies10aCytokines10aFollicle Stimulating Hormone10aGonadotropins, Pituitary10aHumans10aInterleukin-110aInterleukin-610aleprosy10aLuteinizing Hormone10aMale10aProlactin10aTestosterone10aTumor Necrosis Factor-alpha1 aLeal AM O1 aMagalhães PK R1 aSouza CS1 aFoss N00aPituitary-gonadal hormones and interleukin patterns in leprosy.  a1416-210 v113 a<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>  a1360-2276