Ovarian function studies in active ankylosing spondylitis in women. Clinical response to estrogen therapy

Ovarian function was studied in 17 women with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Levels of FSH, LH, prolactin and androstenedione were normal in menstruating patients and FSH and LH were elevated in menopausal patients. In menstruating patients with active AS the estradiol levels were lower than in patients with inactive AS and significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than controls. Progesterone levels in menstruating patients were lower (P = NS) than controls. In menopausal patients estrogen levels were lower than their controls (P = NS). There was a significant (p less than 0.05) inverse correlation between the sedimentation rate and the estrogen level. Seven patients accepted oral estrogen therapy (average duration 4 months) and peripheral arthritis subsided within one month, all variables of clinical activity of AS improved and at the end of the study all patients were in functional class I.