Bone loss in males with ankylosing spondylitis: its relation to sex hormone levels.
OBJECTIVE
Osteoporosis is a common complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of the present study was to assess the association of sex hormone levels with bone loss in males with AS.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study. Patients The study group consisted of 58 male patients with primary AS. The mean age was 38.2 years (range 18-59 years).


METHODS
Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the left proximal femur. Serum FSH, LH, total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone levels were measured.


RESULTS
Bone loss was observed in 54.5% of cases at the femoral neck and in 52.3% of cases at the trochanter and total hip. Bone loss was found in 40 (69%) cases in at least one of these three regions. Serum DHEAS was low in 12 (30.8%) of the cases with bone loss, and one (5.9%) of those without (P = 0.043). The ratio of serum T/DHEAS was higher in those with bone loss (5.24 +/- 3.70) than in those without (3.58 +/- 3.16) (P = 0.026).


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that bone loss might be related to low serum DHEAS levels in males with AS.
Aydin
Teoman
T
SB Vakif Gureba Education and Research Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
Karacan
Ilhan
I
Demir
Saliha Eroglu
SE
Sahin
Zerrin
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone