Association of hormone profile with various respiratory disorders in sulfur mustard-chemical veterans.

BACKGROUNDS

Chronic respiratory complications such as asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans, and chronic bronchitis are prevalent among individuals exposed to sulfur mustard (SM). This study investigates the hormonal changes associated with SM-induced respiratory disorders.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 276 male participants exposed to SM during the Iraq-Iran war and 64 healthy controls. Serum levels of various hormones were measured.

RESULTS

Testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), luteinizing hormone (LH), DHEA-S/cortisol ratio, and DHEA-S/prolactin ratio were decreased in the SM-exposed group compared to the control group while prolactin level and prolactin/cortisol ratio were increased (P < 0.05). The prolactin was increased in bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic bronchitis, and asthma compared to the control group while DHEA-S and DHEA-S/prolactin ratio were decreased in those disorders (P < 0.05). The testosterone was only decreased in asthma, and DHEA-S/cortisol ratio was only decreased in bronchiolitis obliterans and chronic bronchitis compared to control and other disorders (P < 0.05). The principle component analysis showed that the DHEA-S/cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratios had the most contributing to interpatient variation in total SM-exposed patients in the principle component 1 (PC1). In patients with asthma and bronchiolitis obliterans, prolactin/cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratios had the most contributing in PC1 while in patients with chronic bronchitis, the DHEA-S/cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratios had the most contributing.

CONCLUSION

Hormones including testosterone, prolactin, and DHEA-S or their ratios (DHEA-S/cortisol and DHEA-S/prolactin ratios) had the most alterations as delayed effects of sulfur mustard. Also, DHEA-S/cortisol, DHEA-S/prolactin, testosterone/cortisol, and prolactin/cortisol had the most contributing in changes of hormone profile for SM-induced pulmonary disorders. These data may suggest the best parameters for evaluating of hormone profile of SM-exposed people.