Sexual Dimorphisms of Adrenal Steroids, Sex Hormones, and Immunological Biomarkers and Possible Risk Factors for Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 3

Steroidal and hormonal values reported by referral laboratory and imputed to full sample sizes.

Steroid and hormonal statistical values	Controls ()		Pre-RA cases ()		All subjects ()
	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males
	()	()	()	()	()	()
17-OH pregnenolone
Mean (nmol/L) ± SE	6.8 ± 0.3	11.9 ± 0.8	6.8 ± 0.6	11.8 ± 1.1	6.8 ± 0.3	11.9 ± 0.7
Median; IQR	5.7; 4.4–7.9	10.2; 7.3–15.2	5.7; 4.2–8.8	11.0; 8.7–14.6	5.7; 4.4–8.2	10.2; 7.7–15.0
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Mean (nmol/L) ± SE	18.6 ± 1.0	8.5 ± 0.6	17.9 ± 1.9	7.6 ± 1.0	18.5 ± 0.9	8.4 ± 0.5
Median; IQR	15.9; 12.5–20.8	7.2; 4.8–10.3	14.8; 11.5–19.2	7.7; 3.9–9.7	15.6; 12.4–19.7	7.2; 4.7–10.1
17-OH progesterone
Mean (nmol/L) ± SE	4.3 ± 0.3	5.0 ± 0.3	4.3 ± 0.5	5.0 ± 0.5	4.3 ± 0.3	5.0 ± 0.3
Median; IQR	3.0; 1.9–5.7	4.7; 3.1–6.3	3.6; 1.7–6.1	4.5; 3.5–6.0	3.1; 1.9–5.9	4.7; 3.2–6.2
Androstenedione
Mean (nmol/L) ± SE	7.6 ± 0.2	2.2 ± 0.1	6.7 ± 0.4	2.2 ± 0.2	7.5 ± 0.2	2.2 ± 0.1
Median; IQR	7.2; 6.2–8.8	2.2; 1.5–2.9	6.6; 5.3–8.3	2.2; 1.4–3.0	7.1; 6.0–8.6	2.2; 1.5–2.9
Testosterone (T)
Mean (nmol/L) ± SE	2.5 ± 0.1	18.3 ± 0.8	2.4 ± 0.2	19.2 ± 1.8	2.5 ± 0.1	18.5 ± 0.8
Median; IQR	2.3; 1.8–2.9	17.4; 13.7–23.3	2.3; 1.8–2.9	17.8; 13.3–24.3	2.3; 1.8–2.9	17.8; 13.6–23.5
Estradiol (E2)
Mean (pmol/L) ± SE	229.5 ± 18.2	65.4 ± 2.9	251 ± 60.7	69.7 ± 6.0	233.0 ± 19.7	66.2 ± 2.6
Median; IQR	176; 80–278	66.0; 48.0–80.3	168; 83–276	68; 49.0–84.3	173; 81–278	66.0; 48.0–81.0
E2/T ratio (×10^3)
Mean ± SE	123.0 ± 16.5	4.1 ± 0.3	134.0 ± 36.1	4.1 ± 0.5	125.2 ± 15.0	4.1 ± 0.2
Median; IQR	80.2; 37.6–138	3.4; 2.5–5.0	76.5; 27.7–151	4.0; 2.7–4.9	78.8; 35.4–138	3.5; 2.6–5.0
DHEA sulfate (DHEAS)
Mean (μmol/L) ± SE	3.0 ± 0.2	7.3 ± 0.4	2.5 ± 0.3	7.5 ± 1.1	2.9 ± 0.1	7.3 ± 0.4
Median; IQR	2.6; 1.6–3.9	6.8; 4.8–8.8	2.3; 1.5–3.5	6.2; 3.8–11.0	2.5; 1.6–3.8	6.8; 4.6–8.9
Cortisol
Mean (nmol/L) ± SE	233.4 ± 11.8	291.1 ± 18.7	245.2 ± 24.6	272.8 ± 35.4	236.8 ± 10.8	285.5 ± 16.7
Median; IQR	205; 155–285	255; 186–382	241; 143–329	257; 161–381	216; 155–286	255; 184–369
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Mean (IU/L) ± SE	23.4 ± 1.8	5.9 ± 0.3	23.5 ± 3.4	5.8 ± 0.7	23.4 ± 1.6	5.9 ± 0.3
Median; IQR	15.7; 5.4–39.5	5.1; 4.0–6.9	19.6; 4.3–36.2	5.5; 4.0–7.2	17.1; 5.3–37.9	5.1; 4.0–7.0
Prolactin (PRL)
Mean (μg/L) ± SE	11.9 ± 0.5	7.0 ± 0.4	11.0 ± 0.8	8.0 ± 1.0	11.7 ± 0.4	7.2 ± 0.4
Median; IQR	10.4; 8.0–13.4	6.1; 4.6–9.0	9.5; 8.1–13.3	7.6; 4.0–11.4	10.1; 8.1–13.4	6.3; 4.6–9.7

Significant () differences in values between total females and males, except for cortisol () and 17-hydroxyprogesterone ().