Changes in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Homosexual Men*

Abstract

Serum total testosterone, total 17.beta.-estradiol, LH, FSH and PRL concentrations were measured by RIA in 59 homosexual men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (32 clinically healthy antibody-positive men (HH+), 20 men with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and 7 men with AIDS-related complex (ARC)). The results were compared with those of 26 antibody-negative homosexual men (HH-) who served as controls. The mean serum total testosterone concentration was significantly lower in the men with AIDS [414 .+-. 230 (.+-. SD) ng/dL (14.5 .+-. 8.0)] than in the HH- men [550 .+-. 172 ng/dL (19.0 .+-. 6.0 nmol/L); P < 0.05]. The mean serum LH level was significantly higher in the men with AIDS (26 .+-. 14 vs. 14 .+-. 4 IU/L in HH- men; P < 0.01) and slightly but significantly higher in the men with ARC (19 .+-. 8 IU/L; 0.10 > P > 0.05). Serum FSH also was significantly higher in the men with AIDS (P < 0.05). Serum PRL was significantly higher in the men with ARC (10 .+-. 2 .mu.g/L; P < 0.05) and AIDS (16 .+-. 10 .mu.g/L; P < 0.001) than in the HH- men (8 .+-. 3 .mu.g/L). Serum sex hormone-binding globulin levels were similar in HH- men and men with AIDS as were serum T responses to hCG administration for 2 days. These results suggest that alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis indicative of primary hypogonadism accompany human immunodeficiency virus infection in homosexual men.