La gynecomastie lepreuse etude preliminaire

ABSTRACT

Since 1954 the authors have seen 108 patients out of 700, or 15 per cent, who had unilateral or bilateral gynecomastia. Most of them (84) were in lepromatous cases, but some were also seen in cases classified as tuberculoid (12) and indeterminate (12). The condition was observed at various periods of observation, from the first to the ninth years. In this preliminary report brief details are given of the last seven patients seen, all lepromatous, who had submitted to biopsy of the testicle. The urinary hormones were determined in the fast four of them. The gynecomastia is related to anatomic and functional alterations of the testicles (hypogonadism) due to leprotic involvement, which may be slight or marked. In the cases tested, the excretion of the 17 cetosteroids was notably below the normal level. It is not possible, however, to rule out an influence of other endocrine glands, or even a possible nervous influence. Three other possible factors - treatment, liver disturbance, and nutritional deficiencies - are discussed, more to eliminate than to implicate them.