Supplementary Material for: Untreated Psoriasis Impairs Male Fertility: A Case-Control Study
Caldarola G.
Milardi D.
Grande G.
Quercia A.
Baroni S.
Morelli R.
Marana R.
Pontecorvi A.
De Simone C.
Peris K.
10.6084/m9.figshare.5091937.v1
https://karger.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Supplementary_Material_for_Untreated_Psoriasis_Impairs_Male_Fertility_A_Case-Control_Study/5091937
<p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Recent evidence indicates that a systemic
state of inflammation may impair fertility, but data about psoriatic
males are scarce. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of this study was to
assess gonadal function in psoriatic males implementing our knowledge
about fertility in these subjects. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Male psoriatic
patients, aged between 18 and 55 years, and a group of healthy subjects
matched for age, BMI and geographic origin were enrolled. All subjects
underwent a complete physical and andrological examination, standard
semen analysis, complete microbiological analysis and ultrasound
evaluation of sexual glands. Seminal levels of soluble urokinase-type
plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and serum levels of testosterone,
estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing
hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were also assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b>
Fifty patients and 50 controls fulfilled the inclusion criteria and
were enrolled in our study. Testosterone and SHBG were found to be
significantly decreased in patients with psoriasis compared with the
control group. Higher levels of E2 were also reported in psoriatic
patients. Total sperm count, sperm motility and percent of spermatozoa
with normal morphology were significantly reduced in patients compared
to controls. suPAR levels were significantly increased in patients
compared to controls and found to be above the reference limits.
Ultrasound signs of inflammation of the accessory glands were observed
in 35/50 patients with psoriasis and in none of the controls. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b>
Our study suggests that untreated psoriasis may impair male fertility.
We also found that this might be due to an impact of systemic
inflammation on the hormonal profile and on sexual accessory gland
inflammation.</p>
2017-06-08 11:11:03
Psoriasis
Immune-mediated inflammatory disease
Inflammation
Males
Fertility