Systemic lupus erythematosus in men. Genetic and endocrine features

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Abstract
Sixteen men with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were examined to assess their genetic and hormonal status. The results of buccal smears in 13 patients examined were normal. Hormonal profiling was done in 8 patients receiving no steroid therapy. Four patients had elevated plasma estradiol levels (30, 35, 55, and 103 pg/ml; normal, 12-23 pg/ml) and elevated plasma estrone levels (115, 150, 155 and 160 pg/ml; normal 48-100 pg/ml). One patient had a decreased serum testosterone level (134 ng/dl; normal, 300-1000 ng/dl), with an elevated luteinizing hormone (LH) level (4.2 ng/ml; normal, 1.6-4.0 ng/ml). One patient had an elevation in both levels of serum FSH hormone (17.6 ng/ml; normal, 1-5 ng/ml) and LH (10.0 ng/ml). Two patients given infusions of 3H-androstenedione and 14C-testosterone had normal findings from kinetic studies of these hormones. Hyperestrogenemia and hypoandrogenemia observed in some men with SLE suggest that female sex hormones may create an immunologic millieu that facilitates the autoimmune phenomena.