02080nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001100080653001700091653001000108653002300118653001200141653000900153653001600162653001700178653001700195653002600212653001700238100001500255700001400270700001500284700001500299245007700314300001100391490000700402050001800409520130100427022001401728       2005                            d  c2005 Sep10aAdolescent10aAdult10aHumans10aHypogonadism10aIndia10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aRisk Factors10aRural Health10aSocioeconomic Factors10aTestosterone1 aAggrawal K1 aMadhu S V1 aAggrawal K1 aKannan A T00aHypogonadism in male Leprosy patients--a study from rural Uttar pradesh.  a219-250 v37  aAGGRAWAL 20053 a<p>Hypogonadism in male patients with Leprosy is common and may identify patients with future risk for bone loss and osteoporosis. In the present study, we evaluated gonadal function in 71 male patients with Leprosy both clinically and by estimation of serum testosterone levels. The patients belonged to selected rural areas of Uttar pradesh, with majority aged less than 50 yrs (74.6%), Hindus (66.7%), illiterate (60.9%), and of low socioeconomic status (58% with per capita income < Rs.500 per month). Most patients had multibacillary Leprosy (83.1%), duration less than 2 years (75.4%) and had received antileprosy drugs for less than a year (95.6 %). Seven patients (9.9%) had clinical features of hypogonadism such as gynaecomastia, decreased sexual hair and infertility. Serum testosterone levels, estimated in 31 of the patients, revealed low values in 25.8% (8/31) patients (Mean 4.65+/-3.37 ng/ml). Age, duration of Leprosy and socioeconomic status but not type of Leprosy or treatment duration affected hypogonadism significantly. The results of the present study indicate a high frequency of hypogonadism among rural male Leprosy patients that warrants routine screening to identify patients at risk for osteoporosis and possible prevention with testosterone replacement therapy.</p>  a0019-5138