COVID-19 pneumonia causes lower testosterone levels

Andrologia. 2021 Feb;53(1):e13909. doi: 10.1111/and.13909. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Abstract

To evaluate the testicular damage caused by COVID-19, we prospectively evaluated 44 patients who applied to the COVID-19 outpatient clinic between March 2020 and July 2020. Patients' ages, COVID-19 PCR results, presence of pneumonia, total testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values were recorded. It was evaluated whether there were significant differences between people who were positive for COVID-19 and those who were not. Any differences between those who had COVID-19 pneumonia and those who did not were also recorded. There was no difference between the FSH, LH and testosterone values of the COVID-19 PCR positive and negative patients (p = 0.80, vp = 0.62, p = 0.56 respectively). However when LH values were separated as low, normal and high, LH values were statistically significantly higher in the COVID-19 PCR positive group (p = 0.04). Thoracic computed tomography was performed in 42 patients. Testosterone levels were significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (p = 0.01). When FSH, LH and testosterone values were separated as low, normal and high, there was no difference in FSH and LH values (p = 1, p = 0.2). Testosterone levels were found significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (p < .001). Testosterone levels seem to decrease during acute COVID-19 infection, especially in the patient group with viral pneumonia.

Keywords: COVID-19; FSH; LH; Total testosterone; pneumonia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19 / blood*
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Testosterone / blood*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Testosterone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone