Gonadal Hormonal Changes in HIV-Positive Individuals Following Anti –retroviral Theraphy at K.R. Hospital, Mysuru, Karnataka, India

Aims: HIV infection and AIDS remain global health challenges, with many individuals suffering from endocrine disorders such as gonadal dysfunction. This study assesses the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and estradiol in HIV-positive individuals before and after six months of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Study Design: Clinical observational study. Place and Duration of Study: ART Center, K.R. Hospital, Mysuru. Methodology: The clinical–observational study involved seventy patients who were HIV positive, who were recruiting to ART clinic which is located at KR hospital Mysuru. The patients were split into two groups according to their CD4 count (≤200 cells/µL ND >200 cells/µ L). The baseline values were measured for LH, FSH, testosterone and estradiol just prior to ART and the levels of hormones were measured again six months after commencing ART. Results: Our study conducted among 70 patients, 38 were males and 32 were females, average age being around 40 years. These patients were divided into two groups based on CD4 counts (≤200 cells/µL and >200 cells/µL). Gonadal hormone level were checked pre-ART and six months post-ART therapy. After six months of ART therapy, there was significant improvement in testosterone (7.93 pg/mL to 8.94 pg/mL (p < 0.0001)) and LH level noted among male patients, estradiol and FSH levels were not improved significantly. Same degree of improvement in hormone level were not seen in female patients. Hypogonadism improved from 18.57% improved to 69.23% after six-month post-ART therapy. This signifies role of ART therapy in improvement in gonadal dysfunction. Conclusion: Gonadal deficiency or more specifically hypogonadism is common among patients infected with HIV. The improvement in male testosterone and LH levels after ART suggests that hypogonadism may reverse in some cases. However, these observations need long term and larger volume studies to support the hypothesis.