1 research outputs found
COVID-19 and androgenic status: testosterone or dihydrotestosterone have a pivotal role?
The aim of our study is analysis of the androgenic status including testosterone (T)
and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in men hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and them
relationship with the course of the disease. This is a
monocentric prospective study performed on 125 male patients hospitalized for
COVID-19. We conducted hematological examination, blood biochemical profile,
hemostasis analysis and hormonal examination (T and
DHT levels) lung and chest computed tomography and also
assessed outcomes of hospitalization. Low DHT serum level was found only
in 18 patients (14.4%). Subjects with low DHT were significantly older compare
to subjects with normal DHT. At the same time in patients with normal DHT white
blood cells (WBC) count, neutrophils at admission were higher than in patients
with low DHT. No correlation was observed between T and DHT serum blood levels.
C-reactive protein (CRP) has a weak positive correlation of DHT serum blood
concentration (r = 0.22; p = 0.016). The inverse pattern was obtained
for T serum blood concentration (r = −0.285; p = 0.001). After divided
all males according to T concentrations we conducted next correlation analysis
for DHT and CRP in two different groups: with normal T levels and with low T
levels. We found that in males with normal T DHT levels are not correlated with
CRP (r = 0.095; p = 0.462). However, in males with low T DHT and CRP had
weak positive correlation with r = 0.317 (p = 0.012). Higher DHT concentrations are associated with higher CRP levels, however correlation is weak and in patients with normal T is absent, that may indicate
anti-inflammatory effect of T and possible proinflammatory effect of DHT