[Hypogonadism in men with inflammatory joint diseases: Frequency and clinical characteristics]

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Endocrinology
• Men's Health
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are chronic inflammatory conditions.
• Hypogonadism (HG), characterized by low testosterone (TS) levels, is a potential comorbidity in men with rheumatic diseases (RDs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of HG in men diagnosed with RA, AS, and PsA.
• To investigate the impact of HG on the clinical presentation and course of these rheumatic diseases and associated comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 170 men with RA, 57 with AS, and 85 with PsA.
• Assessment of total testosterone (TS) levels to identify HG, followed by comparative analysis of clinical, demographic, and laboratory markers between patients with and without HG.

Main Results:

• The incidence of TS deficiency (HG) was 24.1% in RA, 17.5% in AS, and 31.8% in PsA.
• HG in RA was associated with higher BMI, glucose, uric acid, ESR, and anemia. In AS, HG correlated with lower hemoglobin, anemia, higher CRP, and ESR. In PsA, HG was linked to older age, higher BMI, glucose, and obesity.
• Despite these associations, HG was not linked to the stage or activity of the RD, and hormone levels and disease markers were similar across HG patient groups regardless of the specific RD.

Conclusions:

• Low testosterone levels and HG are common in men with RA, AS, and PsA.
• HG is associated with increased inflammatory markers, anemia, and metabolic disturbances but not disease stage or activity.
• HG patients, irrespective of their specific rheumatic disease, exhibit similar sex hormone profiles and disease-related indicators.