RESUMO
The androgenic status of 24 lepromatous leprosy male patients, 12 with and 12 without gynecomastia, was studied in comparison with that of 12 normal healthy males. Plasma testosterone levels were significantly diminished in the gynecomastia group as compared to levels in either of the control groups. The patients without gynecomastia showed values not significantly lower than those of normal males. Histopathologic examination of the leprous testes showed a variable admixture of inflammatory, degenerative anf fibrotic changes which were more severe and more frequent in the patients with gynecomastia than in those without it. Parenchymatous liver function tests showed greater derangement in the gynecomastia group as compared to the controls Histopathology of the liver showed lepromatous infiltration in patients with and without gynecomastia though the changes in liver were minimal in patients who showed total testicular degeneration in the biopsies.