Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Endocrine diseases are common among men living with HIV (MLWH) known as curable etiology of depression. Depression impedes adherence to treatment and perceived quality of life. Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate depression after medical treatment of underlying endocrine diseases among Iranian MLWH. Materials & Methods: We recruited a convenient sample of 296 MLWH at a referral HIV clinic from April 2013 to March 2014. In phase I (cross-sectional evaluation), all patients were interviewed using the beck depression inventory (BDI- II) questionnaire. In phase II, participants with moderate to severe depression (n=110, scores â�?¥21) were evaluated for endocrine diseases (evaluations: total testosterone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and serum cortisol). 11 patients diagnosed with hypogonadism were finally considered for hormone replacement therapy. We reevaluated changes in depressive symptoms with BDI-II. Results: From 237 participants, 136 (75%) had BDI scores â�?¥21; 110 participated in the endocrine evaluations. Secondary hypogonadism (total testosterone â�?¤2.8 nmol/l; LH, FSH: normal) was the only observed abnormality in 10% (n=11) of the patients and hormone replacement was prescribed to seven of them for three months. All patients were re-evaluated for depression; significant changes were observed in final scores (p=0.027). Conclusions: Evaluation and treatment of hypogonadism can help clinicians to reduce or control depression among people living with HIV; hence improving treatment compliance and patient outcomes.

Biography

Fereshteh Ghiasvand is an Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases department at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Email: ghiasvand_62@yahoo.com