RESUMO
Although the high frequency of hypogonadism was found during the sleeping sickness, the physiological properties of the gonads have been poorly studied. We reported here the exploration of the gonadotropic axis in 79 patients infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. It has been noted a decrease in oestradiol for 50% of women, in testosterone levels for 50% of men whereas no decrease of pituitary gonadotropins (FSH and LH) was found. The results of the gonad adenohypophyseal tests suggested that the dysfunction may be of central origin. The studies of thyreotropic axis were also examined: a decrease in T3 and FT3 (free fraction) even though T4 was normal. The specific relationship between hypogonadism and trypanosomal infection is discussed in this report.
