Korean J Dermatol.  1981 Dec;19(6):865-874.

Serum Testostrone Levels in Leprsy Patients

• Park ES
• Song JY
• Chung SL
• Chung TH

Abstract

Testicular involvement in male patients with leprosy is well documented and may be associated with impotence, sterility and gynecomastia. Testicular histology shows atrophy of the seminiferous tubules with hypertropy and clumping of Leydig cells and hyalinization of the small and medium sized vessels. The hormonal functions of the testes have been studied by a number of workers, usually in patients with testicular atrophy and gynecomastia. In these particular patients, androgens are generally diminished while gonadotropins are increased. The pathogenesis of testicular damage is uncertain, though Wall and Wright(1974) found that testicular germinal cell antibodies were present in 75% of lepromatous, and postulated that :autoirnmunity, Erythema Nodosum Leprosum imrnune complex damage and direct invasion by Mycobacterium leprae may all be contributory.

MeSH Terms

Androgens
Antibodies
Atrophy
Erectile Dysfunction
Erythema Nodosum
Gonadotropins
Gynecomastia
Humans
Hyalin
Infertility
Leprosy
Leydig Cells
Male
Mycobacterium leprae
Seminiferous Tubules
Testis
Androgens
Antibodies
Gonadotropins