RESUMEN
Background: disorder of testosterone [T] biosynthesis and decline of serum level had reported in systemic inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis disease and with less frequency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a few other pulmonary diseases. However, no known study has performed about sulfur mustard[SM] induced asthma in Iranian veterans. The aim of study was to assess status of hypogonadism and free serum T levels in SM induced asthma and to compare with healthy subjects
Materials and Methods: protocol of study based on random selection of target population among SM induced diseases by self- report questionnaire, male, physician- diagnosed asthma, and positive history of SM exposure. Healthy subjects enrolled according to age sex- matched as a control
Results: thirty-three chemical victims had mean age 53.39 +/- 6.69 SD years. Mean serum free T level was 15.98 +/- 10.52 SD. 30.6% had below the lower normal range. Moreover, means serum values of Follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], Latinizing hormone [LH], Dehidroepianderstone [DHEA] were 11.70 +/- 9.45 SD, 10.40 +/- 7.65 SD, and 1.32 +/- 0.70 SD respectively. Mean free T level of 39 healthy subjects were 23.45 +/- 8.31 SD. The independent samples T test was performed between SM induced asthma and normal groups. Highly Significant differences were founded between free serum T levels among SM induced asthma and normal subjects [P<0.001]
Conclusion: the highly significant frequency of hypogonadisem observed in SM induced asthma group. It may be due to stress of chemical war, influence of glucocorticoid usage, and toxic effect of SM on spermatogenesis. Further studies will suggest carrying out in future years