Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 60-62, 2004

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Short Communication

A Comparative Survey between Serum Androgenic Hormones Levels between Male Patients with Dermatophytosis and Normal Subjects

Seyed Jamal Hashemi, Mohammad Reza Sarasgani and Kamiar Zomorodian*

Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14155, Iran

(Received December 5, 2003. Accepted February 25, 2004)

*Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Researches, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 6446, Tehran-14155, Iran. Tel: +98-21-8951583, Fax: +98-21-6462267, E-mail: zomorodian@razi.tums.ac.ir

SUMMARY: Fungal growth can be influenced by human physiological mediators such as androgenic hormones. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between androgenic hormones and susceptibility to dermatophytosis. To this purpose we measured the levels of testosterone, androstendione, and dehydroepianderosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in 60 male patients with dermatophytosis due to Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton rubrum by enzyme link immunoassay. Serum testosterone concentration was found to be significantly lower in patients with E. floccosum than in healthy subjects. No significant differences in androstendione and DHEA-S levels were noted between the patients and the healthy individuals. The results showed that testosterone concentration can be considered a predisposing factor for tinea cruris infection.

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