POSSIBLE HORMONAL INFLUENCE ON IMMUNOSYST EM AND INFLAMMATION IN FEMALE-PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The influence of gender on the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well known. We examined 40 female patients with RA to show the pos sible influence of androgen hormones on inflammation and immune system . We measured blood count, blood sedimentation rate, C-reactive protei n routinely and free and bound testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-su lfate (DHEA-S), prolactin, insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF), IgA-rhe umatoid factor (IgA-RF) and the monocyte marker CD 14 of radioimmunoas says and enzymeimmunoassays. The female patients with RA had lower and rogen levels correlating with higher inflammatory markers which are no t rising significantly with higher age. The significantly raised IgA-R F with abnormal low testosterone levels points out a poor prognosis fo r developing joint erosions. The simultaneously reduced levels of prol actin may be rather caused by cytokines and could have additional conn ections to the anemia in RA, Somatomedin con-elated inversely to the d egree of inflammation, measured by BSR, CRP and CD 14, a fact which co uld indicate a reduced, Somatomedin-induced, synthesis in matrix and c ollagen of cartilage in ''active'' RA. The results point to the existe nce of a reciprocal connection of the endocrine system with the immune system.