Sex hormone levels and functional outcomes: a controlled study of patients with spinal cord injury compared with healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate testosterone and free testosterone levels in male patients after spinal cord injury (SCI) in comparison with healthy subjects, the effects of free testosterone on Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument, and their relationship between time since injury, spinal cord injury levels, and testosterone levels.

DESIGN

Prospective case series during 2004-2005. Male patients with SCI (n = 44) and a control group (n = 42) from healthy volunteers with similar age and body mass index were included in the study. Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) was measured along with testosterone and free testosterone in the same blood sample. The FIM instrument was administered at the admission to hospital and at discharge.

RESULTS

Serum LH levels were significantly higher in both patient subgroups than in the control group (P < 0.01 and 0.03). Free testosterone levels were lower in the subgroup with time since injury <or=12 mos than in the other patient subgroup and the control group (P = 0.01 and 0.02). No significance was found between androgen status and FIM change.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that a negative androgen status might be notable especially in the first year after spinal cord injury. However, the androgen status does not correlate with functional outcome in patients coming for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury.