title: Testicular hypofunction and multiple sclerosis risk: a record-linkage study.
abstract: The influence of gonadal hormones on multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well characterized and has thus far been investigated primarily in animal models or as a proposed therapeutic approach. We investigated a potential association between testicular hypofunction, as a proxy for low testosterone levels, and MS risk through analysis of linked English national Hospital Episode Statistics from 1999 to 2011. We report a strong positive association between testicular hypofunction and subsequent MS (rate ratio = 4.62, 95% confidence interval = 2.3-8.24, p < 0.0001). Future work should aim more directly to elucidate the relationship between testosterone levels and MS in both males and females.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pakpoor
authors.forename: Raph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldacre
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmierer
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giovannoni
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goldacre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult