Hypogonadism syndrome in men with systemic connective tissue diseases
Abstract. It is known that hypogonadism in men can influence the course and clinical presentation of immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Decreased testosterone levels are also associated with the development of various metabolic disorders.Panevin T.S., Zotkin E.G., Glukhova S.I., Shumilova A.A., Desinova O.V., Khelkovskaya-Sergeeva A.N.
The aim: to study factors associated with hypogonadism in men with systemic connective tissue diseases.
Material and methods. A cross-sectional study included 157 men, 59 of whom had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 60 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 38 with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. All patients underwent serum total testosterone measurements. Hypogonadism was defined as a testosterone level ≤ 12.0 nmol/L. A binary analysis was performed to identify factors associated with low testosterone levels.
Results. In a study of patients with SLE, it was found that taking prednisolone at a daily dose of ≥ 10 mg increased the odds of hypogonadism (OR 9.5; 95% CI: 1.60–56.46; p = 0.013), while current hydroxychloroquine use was associated with a reduced likelihood of this feature (OR 0.18; 95% CI: 0.03–0.93; p = 0.04). Among the patients with SSc, a risk factor for hypogonadism was positivity for antibodies to Scl70 (OR 16.2; 95% CI: 1.95–134.90; p = 0.01). Among patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, the likelihood of hypogonadism was significantly higher in those with concomitant cardiovascular diseases (OR 5.6; 95% CI: 1.02–31.10; p = 0.048).
Conclusion. Decreased testosterone levels are associated with specific SLE treatment options, as well as with the presence of antibodies characteristic of the diffuse form of SSc.
Keywords
systemic lupus erythematosus
systemic sclerosis
myositis
hypogonadism
androgen deficiency
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About the Authors
Taras S. Panevin, MD, PhD (Medicine), researcher, endocrinologist at V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology; associate professor of the Department of faculty and outpatient therapy with a course in endocrinology, Far Eastern State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia. Address: 115522, Moscow, 34A Kashirskoe Avenue.E-mail: tarasel@list.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5290-156X
Evgeny G. Zotkin, MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), first deputy director of V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology. Address: 115522, Moscow, 34A Kashirskoe Avenue.
E-mail: ezotkin@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4579-2836
Svetlana I. Glukhova, MD, PhD (Physics and Mathematics), senior researcher at V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology. Address: 115522, Moscow, 34A Kashirskoe Avenue.
E-mail: sveglukhova@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4285-0869
Anastasia A. Shumilova, MD, junior researcher at V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology. Address: 115522, Moscow, 34A Kashirskoe Avenue.
E-mail: dr.anashumilova@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1318-1894
Oksana V. Desinova, MD, PhD (Medicine), researcher at V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology. Address: 115522, Moscow, 34A Kashirskoe Avenue.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0283-9681
Anna N. Khelkovskaya-Sergeeva, MD, researcher at V.A. Nasonova Scientific and Research Institute of Rheumatology. Address: 115522, Moscow, 34A Kashirskoe Avenue.
E-mail: ankhill@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9755-5760
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