REASEARCH - RA influences sex and thyroid hormones in women

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RA influences sex and thyroid hormones in women

July 21, 2004

2004 JUL 21 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rheumatoid arthritis has an

effect on sex and thyroid hormones in women, researchers report.

According to a study from Turkey, " There has been considerable interest in

the role of hormones in the etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

In this study, we aimed to investigate sex and thyroid hormone conditions

according to menopausal state and disease activation in RA women. "

R. Cevik and associates conducted the study with 54 women with RA and 28

age-matched women with low back pain, who served as controls. " Sex and

thyroid hormones were evaluated in all patients, which included the

measurement of estradiol (E-2), progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone

(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone

(TSH), total (T) and free (F) triiodothyronine (T3) and (T) and (F)

thyroxine (T4). "

Furthermore, they said, " The RA patients were subdivided according to their

premenopausal and postmenopausal status and their disease activation

conditions. Mean age was 45.68 (± 12.5) in women (aged 22-70) with RA;and

42.39 (± 12.45) in controls (aged 22-62). "

Cevik's team noted, " There were no significant differences in sex hormones,

but there were statistically significant higher levels of T3 and T4 in whole

women with RA compared to controls. Lower concentrations of FSH were

detected in active RA patients.

" There were statistically lower concentrations of LH and higher

concentrations of T3 and T4 in premenopausal RA women, while lower

concentrations of FSH were detected in postmenopausal RA women, " the

researchers reported.

" TT3 and FT3 levels of premenopausal RA women were significantly higher than

postmenopausal RA women. There were no significant differences for all other

hormones studied, " the researchers said.

" In conclusion, sex and thyroid hormones have been influenced in women with

RA. Reproductive and menopausal conditions should be taken into

consideration when sex and thyroid hormones studies are carried out in RA

women, " wrote Cevik and colleagues.

Cevik and colleagues published their study in International Journal of

Clinical Practice (Sex and thyroid hormone status in women with rheumatoid

arthritis: are there any effects of menopausal state and disease activity on

these hormones? Int J Clin Pract, 2004;58(4):327-332).

For more information, contact R. Cevik, Dicle University, School of

Medicine, TR-21280 Diyarbakir, Turkey.

Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Clinical

Practice is: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DG,

Oxon, England.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of

Endocrinology, Pain Medicine, Rheumatology, and Women's Health. This article

was prepared by Immunotherapy Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

http://www.obgyn.net/newsheadlines/womens_health-Rheumatoid_Arthritis-20040721-6\

5.asp

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