Testosterone is a male hormone that is present in both males and females, but it is found in higher amounts in men. It plays a role in bone development, muscle maintenance and libido. Testosterone levels have been shown to be low in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but low levels of the hormone doesn't increase the risk for the autoimmune disorder.
About Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the lining of the joints in the hands, knees, fingers and back. This leads to an array of symptoms such as joint pain, joint swelling, fatigue and tenderness. Over time, people with rheumatoid arthritis often have difficulty performing daily activities.
About Low Testosterone
Scientists at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London investigated the levels of testosterone levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients. They measured the testosterone levels of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. While they found that osteoarthritis patients had normal testosterone levels, those with rheumatoid arthritis had low levels of the hormone, according to research reported in the 1988 issue of the "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases."
Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk
Although low testosterone levels may be found in rheumatic patients, low testosterone levels do not increase your risk for rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study conducted by researchers at Kanta-Hame Central Hospital in Finland. They followed adults who did not have arthritis or a family history of arthritis for 12 years. Researchers observed that adults with low testosterone levels were not more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those with normal testosterone levels. The findings were published in the May 1998 issue of "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases."
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Researchers at the University of Genova in Italy performed a review of the effectiveness of testosterone replacement therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis. They concluded that testosterone replacement therapy had a positive effect on male patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, further research on females is necessary, according to research reported in the November 2000 issue of "Rheumatoid Diseases Clinics of North America."
References
- Mayo Clinic; Rheumatoid Arthritis; November 2009
- "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases"; Low Testosterone Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis; T.D. Spector et al.; January 1988
- "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases"; Serum Androgen-Anabolic Hormones and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis; R. Heikkila et al.; May 1998
- "Rheumatoid Diseases Clinics of North America"; Sex Hormone Adjuvant Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis; M. Cutolo; November 2000
