Lymphocytes subset in hyperandrogenic women with polycystic ovarian disease

The correlation between the sex steroids and the immune system is already known but the relationships between testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, cortisol and the immune system are still controversial. The Authors have studied lymphocytes subset in ten women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD); it was observed: 1) a decrease of T8 in 64% and of natural killer activity (NK) in 60% of patients, and an increase of T4/T8 ratio in 55%; 2) a significant negative correlation between androstenedione and testosterone (P less than 0.05); 3) a significant positive correlation between the decreased T8 lymphocytes and NK cells and the increase of testosterone and androstenedione serum values. The data suggest that in PCOD a correlation between endocrine and immune system exists and the androgens can affect the lymphocyte subset.