Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Testosterone as a Biomarker of Adverse Clinical Outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia |
| Authors: |
Lorenzo Marinelli, Guglielmo Beccuti, Marco Zavattaro, Serena Cagnina, Iacopo Gesmundo, Chiara Bona, Chiara Lopez, Silvia Scabini, Francesca Canta, Simone Mornese Pinna, Tommaso Lupia, Cataldo Di Bisceglie, Federico Ponzetto, Fabio Settanni, Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa, Ezio Ghigo, Giovanna Motta |
| Source: |
Biomedicines, Vol 10, Iss 4, p 820 (2022) |
| Publisher Information: |
MDPI AG, 2022. |
| Publication Year: |
2022 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Biology (General) |
| Subject Terms: |
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, pneumonia, testosterone, men, hypogonadism, Biology (General), QH301-705.5 |
| More Details: |
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may affect testicles. Lower testosterone levels have been associated with worse clinical outcomes and higher mortality. Our objective was to evaluate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis of men admitted with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and its link with the pneumonia-treatment intensification. Short-term changes in hormonal parameters were also assessed. Methods: Men admitted with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were recruited in two different hospitals in Piedmont, Italy. In all patients, the assessment of total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), gonadotropins, inhibin B (InhB), and other biochemical evaluations were performed at admission (T0) and before discharge (T1). Through a review of medical records, clinical history was recorded, including data on pneumonia severity. Results: Thirty-five men (median age 64 [58–74] years) were recruited. Lower TT and cFT levels at T0 were associated with CPAP therapy (p = 0.045 and 0.028, respectively), even after adjusting for age and PaO2/FIO2 ratio in a multivariable analysis. In those discharged alive, lower TT and cFT levels were associated with longer hospital stay (p < 0.01). TT, cFT, and InhB were below the normal range at T0 and significantly increased at T1 (TT 1.98 [1.30–2.72] vs. 2.53 [1.28–3.37] ng/mL, p = 0.038; cFT (0.0441 [0.0256–0.0742] vs. 0.0702 [0.0314–0.0778] ng/mL, p = 0.046; InhB 60.75 [25.35–88.02] vs. 77.05 [51.15–134.50], p < 0.01). Conclusions: Both TT and cFT levels are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in men admitted with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. As TT, cFT and InhB levels increase before discharge, short-term functional recovery of steroidogenesis and an indirect improvement of spermatozoa functional status could be hypothesized. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2227-9059 |
| Relation: |
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/4/820; https://doaj.org/toc/2227-9059 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/biomedicines10040820 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/927d781c3630499489a7c05335bb6f80 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.927d781c3630499489a7c05335bb6f80 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
