Abstract
Background. Hand Osteoarthritis (HOA) presents genetic and hereditary characteristics and related to menopause with inflammatory symptoms.
Aim. To evaluate the anterior pituitary and sexual hormonal profiles of climacteric women with HOA and identify the probable link with hypothalamic commitment of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) and TRH (Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone).
Methodology. A retrospective, controlled trial on climacteric females patients with HOA compared to healthy women, and all submitted to hormonal evaluation by RIA for estradiol (E2), progesterone (PRG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), parathyroid stimulating hormone (PTH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
Results. The groups were homogeneously related to age, menopause onset, and expected climacteric levels of E2, PRG, FSH, ACTH, GH, and PTH; the HOA group, without black patients (p<0.000), presented more abnormal tests than the controls (<0.0000) in 86.4% (95%CI67,2-96.4) of the sample, and related to low levels of LH in 40.9%(95%CI22.1-61.9) and FSH in 9.09%(CI95%1.5-26.9), 45.4%(CI95%25.8-60.1) patients with increased levels of TSH (p<0.000) and 31.8%(CI95%15.1-53.0) with high PRL levels (p = 0.04). The analysis of hypothalamic dependence demonstrated that 50.0% (CI95% 29.7-70.2) of the sample presented low LH/FSH levels related to GnRH and 77.2%(CI95%56.5-01.1) with TSH/PRL levels associated with TRH.
Conclusion. The HOA patients exhibit more hormonal abnormalities than the control group, and trend to sub-clinical syndromes of hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, and hypogonadism hypogonadotropic only related to LH and ovarian hormones, and these findings demonstrated a probable neuroendocrine participation in HOA physiopathology.