Open Access

Effect of exogenous glucocorticoids on male hypogonadism

  • Authors:
    • Adel Gassab Mohammed
    • Abbas Ali Mansour
    • Jawad Hassan Ahmed
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 26, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2020.1319
  • Article Number: 12
  • Copyright: © Mohammed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exogenous glucocorticoids (GCs), a potent cause of male hypogonadism, on the function of the hypothalamic‑­pituitary‑gonadal axis, and to determine their secondary effects in male patients. The present study was a case‑controlled study conducted in Basrah, Iraq. Of the 152 participants who met the inclusion criteria, 100 patients used different types of GCs. Of these 100 patients, 57 patients (57%) were current GC users, and 43 patients (43%) were not currently using GCs (had not used GCs in the past 30 days). The control group was comprised of 52 men (34.21%), considered as healthy participants, although 7 men (13.65%) were biochemically diagnosed with hypogonadism. Current GC exposure significantly decreased the total and free testosterone levels, whereas previous GC exposure increased estradiol (E2) levels, with the 31 patients on oral dexamethasone (cumulative dose, 18.9 mg) exhibiting a 7.5‑fold increased risk of being diagnosed with hypogonadism. For previous GC users, a significant increase in the E2 level was observed, whereas all other gonadal hormonal levels were within normal reference ranges, including the total and free testosterone levels. The total cumulative dose of equivalent GCs was 240 mg, which resulted in a decrease in total testosterone levels, and subsequent hypogonadism. Oral dexamethasone at a lower total cumulative dose resulted in hypogonadism.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

September-2020
Volume 13 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 2049-9434
Online ISSN:2049-9442

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Mohammed AG, Mansour AA and Ahmed JH: Effect of exogenous glucocorticoids on male hypogonadism. Biomed Rep 13: 12, 2020
APA
Mohammed, A.G., Mansour, A.A., & Ahmed, J.H. (2020). Effect of exogenous glucocorticoids on male hypogonadism. Biomedical Reports, 13, 12. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2020.1319
MLA
Mohammed, A. G., Mansour, A. A., Ahmed, J. H."Effect of exogenous glucocorticoids on male hypogonadism". Biomedical Reports 13.3 (2020): 12.
Chicago
Mohammed, A. G., Mansour, A. A., Ahmed, J. H."Effect of exogenous glucocorticoids on male hypogonadism". Biomedical Reports 13, no. 3 (2020): 12. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2020.1319