[Possible effect of hormones on immune and inflammatory processes in female patients with chronic polyarthritis]

The influence of gender on the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well known. We examined 40 female patients with RA to show the possible influence of androgen hormones on inflammation and immune system. We measured blood count, blood sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein routinely and free and bound testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin, insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF), IgA-rheumatoid factor (IgA-RF) and the monocyte marker CD 14 of radioimmunoassays and enzymeimmunoassays. The female patients with RA had lower androgen levels correlating with higher inflammatory markers which are not rising significantly with higher age. The significantly raised IgA-RF with abnormal low testosterone levels points out a poor prognosis for developing joint erosions. The simultaneously reduced levels of prolactin may be rather caused by cytokines and could have additional connections to the anemia in RA. Somatomedin correlated inversely to the degree of inflammation, measured by BSR, CRP and CD 14, a fact which could indicate a reduced, Somatomedin-induced, synthesis in matrix and collagen of cartilage in "active" RA. The results point to the existence of a reciprocal connection of the endocrine system with the immune system.