Abstract
Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with pemphigus vulgaris referred to Faghihi Hospital and Shiraz Dental Faculty in 2017-2018. The participants included 26 women with histopathologically confirmed pemphigus vulgaris and 26 healthy age-matched controls. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were evaluated in both groups. Independent t-test and two-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. Results The mean age of the patients was 49.88 ± 10.46 years and that of the control group was 49.92 ± 11.30 years. Unlike the case group, the DHEA serum level was significantly higher among nonmenopausal participants in the control group. Moreover, the levels of testosterone and DHEA were significantly lower in the case group in comparison to the control group (p = 0.015 and p = 0.026, respectively). Conclusion Considering the effects of age and menopause, the serum levels of testosterone and DHEA were significantly lower in the patients with pemphigus vulgaris than in the healthy controls. Hence, these hormones might have a role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris.
Highlights
Pemphigus vulgaris is a common autoimmune blistering disease, i.e., the most common form of pemphigus, with the incidence of 2-10/1,000,000 [1, 2]
This study is aimed at evaluating the serum levels of sex hormones in 26 females with pemphigus vulgaris and 26 agematched healthy controls
The levels of testosterone and DHEA were significantly lower in the case group in comparison to the control group (p = 0:015 and p = 0:026, respectively)
Summary
Pemphigus vulgaris is a common autoimmune blistering disease, i.e., the most common form of pemphigus, with the incidence of 2-10/1,000,000 [1, 2]. A marked decline in estradiol and estrone levels is the most prominent hormonal change in menopausal women. Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease with a higher prevalence in postmenopausal women. The present study is aimed at evaluating the sex hormones’ levels in patients with pemphigus vulgaris in comparison to healthy controls. Considering the effects of age and menopause, the serum levels of testosterone and DHEA were significantly lower in the patients with pemphigus vulgaris than in the healthy controls. These hormones might have a role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris
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