A STUDY OF SERUM ANDROGEN AND CORTISOL-LEVELS IN FEMALE-PATIENTS WITHRHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - CORRELATION WITH DISEASE-ACTIVITY

Androgen status and the role played by androgens in the pathogenesis o f rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in female patients are a matter of debate. In the present study serum testosterone (T), DHEAS, sex hormone bindi ng globulin (SHBG) and cortisol levels were determined in 55 RA women, both in pre- and post-menopausal(hl) status, and in a group of health y subjects. Patients were divided into two groups according to disease activity and a correlation analysis of hormonal levels against serum IL1 beta levels was performed. No significant differences were found i n serum T levels between RA patients and controls, both in preM (1.38/-0.4 vs 1.35+/-0.3 nmol/l; p=ns) and in postM status (1.21+/-0.2 vs 1 .10+/-0.2 nmol/l; p=ns). Serum SHBG levels were lower in RA patients t han in control subjects, both in pre and in postM status. DHEAS levels were significantly lower in preM RA patients than in controls (2.34+/ -1.2 vs 5.93+/-1.6 mu mol/l; p < 0.001) while cortisol levels were sig nificantly higher in preM active RA patients than in controls (466.2+/ -30.3 vs 411+/-66.2 nmol/l; p = 0.02). IL1 beta levels were significan tly higher in RA patients than in controls both in pre- and postM subj ects (70+/-33.8 vs 23.1+/-2.9 and 92+/-27.4 vs 31.9+/-3.1 fmol/l, p < 0.001, respectively). Although androgen status could play a role in th e pathogenesis of RA, at present it is not possible to exclude the inf luence of RA itself on sex hormone profile.