Sex hormones in chronic XXXX . Correlation with clinical and biological parameters.

@entity1 @entity172 @entity251 @entity1420 @entity1252 @entity4090 @entity53 @entity134
Sex hormones may play a major role in the pathogenesis and course of @entity1252 ( @entity1252 ). OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the immunoregulatory effect of gonadal steroids in @entity1252 and their mechanisms of action, and to establish a correlation with the clinical and biological activity. DESIGN--Cross-sectional study of a cohort with @entity1252 . SETTING--Outpatient @entity1252 clinic. @entity1 --27 @entity1 with chronic @entity1252 , 14 were fertile @entity1 , 8 postmenopausal @entity1 and 5 men. MEASUREMENT--Serum gonadotropins (FSH, LH), @entity4090 ( @entity4090 ), @entity1420 (PG), @entity251 (T), @entity53 (E2) and total urinary @entity172 (UE) were studied in @entity1252 @entity1 and in 35 healthy controls of similar age and sex. Blood and urine samples of several days of the study cycle were obtained for hormonal assay. RESULTS--An increased LH activity was observed in all groups of @entity1 . There were no changes in serum T levels, but absence of @entity134 therapy increased their levels in fertile @entity1 . A decrease in E2 values in the fertile @entity1 was observed, but total UE was similar to those in controls. This suggests an alteration in intermediate @entity172 metabolism. @entity1 with @entity1252 showed a higher levels in PG and UE than controls. Also, in both groups of @entity1 on @entity134 treatment, a decrease of @entity4090 was observed compared to the controls. In the fertile @entity1 in luteal phase, there was a decrease in PG. In the fertile @entity1 with higher clinical activity in the midcycle phase, and those with higher biological activity in the luteal phase, a decrease in serum E2 was seen. CONCLUSIONS--Our results support the hypothesis that there is an alteration of intermediate metabolism of the @entity172 and of the @entity251 . As well, a lower production of @entity4090 during @entity134 treatment, and a lower production of PG may be important contributing factors in immunomodulation of @entity1252 . Mechanism for this action should be mediated through a stimulation of the gonadotropins as LH.
