Extensive chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis as a stress factor affecting plasma testosterone, cortisol, prolactin and lutenizing hormone levels

Cutaneous leishmaniasis leads to widespread disfiguring scars which cause profound psychological trauma in patients affected with the disease. Stress situations in man are known to alter the serum levels of a number of hormones. Fifty male patients who were subjected to severe chronic stress due to cutaneous leishmaniasis were investigated for their plasma testosterone, cortisol, prolactin, and luteinizing hormone [LH] levels. In comparison to 20 normal subjects, these patients showed significant decrease in plasma testosterone levels and significant increase in plasma cortisol and prolactin levels