Measurement of salivary testosterone in adolescents and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Yolanda Alins Sahun¹  Christopher Boot²  Claire L. Wood³  Tim Cheetham³  Volker Straub⁴ 

[1] Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Department of Paediatrics;Royal Victoria Infirmary. Department of Clinical Biochemistry;Royal Victoria Infirmary. Department of Paediatric Endocrinology;The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine;

关键词: Salivary testosterone;    Duchenne muscular dystrophy;    Androgen deficiency;    Long-term glucocorticoid therapy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12902-021-00727-4

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Many young adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) receive long-term glucocorticoids (GC). GC can cause hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and adolescents may therefore be candidates for pubertal induction. It is unclear whether men with DMD on or off GC have age-appropriate endogenous testosterone production. Methods We undertook a quality improvement project to assess the feasibility of measuring salivary testosterone (SalT) levels in men with DMD at home. A Sal-T sampling kit was sent by post to all patients with DMD, aged 17 and older, registered at the John Walton Muscular Centre in Newcastle (n = 75). Submitted Sal-T samples were collected and submitted for analysis. Results Twenty-eight out of seventy-five patients returned samples (age range: 17–34 years). 6/28 samples were unsuitable for analysis. Overall Sal-T levels (n = 22) were significantly lower than in the healthy population (178 ± 107 v 287 ± 109 pmol/l, p = 0.0001). Sal-T was lower in those on GC compared to those off GC (144 ± 81 versus 218 ± 125 pmol/l, p = 0.05). Three patients were unable to collect a sample due to ventilator dependence. Conclusion Sal T can provide information about androgen status in DMD patients at home, overcoming barriers such as mobility difficulties and challenging venepuncture. However we only obtained samples in a minority of patients suggesting that Sal-T measurement may not be appropriate or acceptable to everyone. There needs to be a more detailed exploration of the barriers to sample submission.

【 授权许可】

Unknown