title: Endocrine testicular function in HIV-infected outpatients.
abstract: We investigated endocrine testicular function in 100 HIV-infected men who were grouped according to the CDC criteria. Progression of the disease was associated with a 27% decrease in plasma oestradiol, which was the only parameter that was weakly correlated with CD4 cell count (r = 0.312, p <0.05). Individual data showed a decreased plasma concentration of total and free testosterone in 35% and 26% of the subjects, respectively, but we could not demonstrate an increased frequency of hypogonadism going along with a progression of the stage of disease. There was no significant correlation between androgen, SHBG or FSH levels and duration of HIV-infection, BMI or CD4 cell count. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was associated with an euthyroid sick state in a 15% subgroup of patients reporting a decrease in libido. Plasma T3 was significantly correlated with testosterone (r = 0.419, p <0.01) and mean plasma T3 was significantly decreased in 8 subjects suffering from erectile impotence. Thus, hypogonadism occurs frequently in HIV-infected outpatients. Like euthyroid sickness it does not seem to be a predictor for progression of the disease but an indicator of actual state of health.
authors.affiliation: Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus, Friedrich Wilhelm Str. 29, Trier D-54290, Germany.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schürmeyer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von zur Mühlen
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000652:urine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013739:Testosterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone