Unit:
Τομέας Βασικών ΕπιστημώνLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Dissertation committee:
Κουτσιλιέρης Μιχάλης, Καθηγητής, Μπεχράκης Παναγιώτης, Αν. Καθηγητής, Λυμπέρη-Κυριακοπούλου Μαρία, Αν. Καθηγήτρια
Original Title:
Χρόνια αποφρακτική πνευμονοπάθεια και γοναδική λειτουργία σε άρρενες ηλικίας άνω των 45 ετών
Translated title:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and gonadal function in males aged over 45 years
Summary:
The current pathophysiology and medical treatment in COPD are predominantly
focused on the lung. However, COPD is accompanied by systemic inflammation that
intensifies during disease progress or exacerbations. The systemic inflammation
of COPD has been implicated in the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis
hormonal manifestations at multiple levels, associated with poor clinical
outcomes.
METHODS: A total of 69 male COPD patients (COPD group) and 82 male volunteers
with normal pulmonary function tests (control group), were enrolled to the
study. Both groups were divided into two subgroups according to their age: 60
years and >60 years. The disease severity was also investigated by dividing the
COPD patients into two subgroups: i) those exhibiting FEV1 <50% predicted and
ii) those with FEV1 50% predicted. We compared the hormonal status between
male COPD patients and age-matched control subjects and the relationship
between hypogonadism and disease severity.
RESULTS: In the overall analysis, there was a significant reduction in total
Testosterone (p<0.001) and free Testosterone (p<0.001), SHBG (p=0.004), DHEAS
(p<0.001), Osteocalcin (p<0.001) of COPD patients compared to the control
group, whereas LH was significantly increased (p=0.012). There was a
significant decline in the hormonal profile and bone turnover serum markers in
the COPD patients of our study population, stratified by the age or disease
severity. COPD patients with age >60 years have shown significant lower free
PSA, compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION: Male hormonal status alterations are present in COPD and they are
related with older age (>60 years) and poorer lung function (FEV1<50%
predicted). This may have implications for the use of the PSA-based screening
tests in the elderly male population with COPD.
Keywords:
COPD, Hypogonadism, Testosterone, PSA, Hormonal profile
Number of references:
312
