ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India
Volume 34, Issue 2, June 2023
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1718452592
Mediterr J Rheumatol 2023;34(2):152-8
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Association of Sex Hormones and Androgens with Disease Activity in Premenopausal Females with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Abstract
Background: Gonadal sex hormone dysfunction is frequently reported in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The relationship of these hormones with disease activity is still not clear and whether the hormone imbalance leads to increased severity of RA is not well studied in this part of the world. The present study aimed to elucidate this fact. Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study performed in 80 premenopausal females with definite RA at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India over one year. Patients were subjected to investigations as per the protocol and a fasting venous blood sample for hormone levels was collected in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Results: A statistically significant correlation by linear logistic regression analysis was found between disease activity (as measured by DAS28) and serum progesterone, FSH, and prolactin, while serum testosterone and DHEAS showed an inverse relationship with disease activity. Low s. prolactin, and s. FSH as well as high s. testosterone and s. DHEAS were found to be associated with target clinical goals in RA (ie, remission and low disease activity). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, serum prolactin showed a direct association. (p=0.016, OR= 1.009. C.I.= 1.0021.017) and serum testosterone were found to have an inverse relationship (p=0.002, OR= 0.017, C.I.=0.001-0.237) with disease activity in this group of individuals. Conclusion: Serum levels of sex hormones may be helpful in predicting disease activity among patients with RA, and in future, may be used to guide treatment of severe refractory disease, unresponsive to conventional treatment with DMARDs, especially in resource-poor settings.
Cite this article as: Gupta PK, Sheoran A, Gupta P, Mahto SK, Jain P, Varshney AK, Sharma LK. Association of Sex Hormones and Androgens with Disease Activity in Premenopausal Females with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2023;34(2):152-8.
Article Submitted: 20 Jul 2022; Revised Form: 18 Oct 2022; Article Accepted: 25 Oct 2022; Available Online: 30 Jun 2023
https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr.34.2.152
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
©2023 The Author(s).
