High estradiol and low testosterone levels are associated with critical illness in male but not in female COVID-19 patients: a retrospective cohort study
Maria Schroeder, Berfin Schaumburg, Zacharias Mueller, Ann Christin Parplys, Dominik Jarczak, Kevin Roedl, Axel Nierhaus, Geraldine de Heer, Joern Grensemann, Bettina Schneider, Fabian Stoll, Tian Bai, Henning Jacobsen, Martin Zickler, Stephanie Stanelle‐Bertram, Kristin Klaetschke, Thomas Renné, Andreas Meinhardt, Jens Aberle, Jens Hiller, Sven Peine, Lothar Kreienbrock, Karin Klingel, Stefan Kluge, Guelsah Gabriel
Abstract
= 50). We detected significantly elevated estradiol levels in critically ill male COVID-19 patients compared to all control cohorts. Testosterone levels were significantly reduced in critically ill male COVID-19 patients compared to control cohorts. No statistically significant differences in sex hormone levels were detected in critically ill female COVID-19 patients, albeit similar trends towards elevated estradiol levels were observed. Linear regression analysis revealed that among a broad range of cytokines and chemokines analysed, IFN-γ levels are positively associated with estradiol levels in male and female COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, male COVID-19 patients with elevated estradiol levels were more likely to receive ECMO treatment. Thus, we herein identified that disturbance of sex hormone metabolism might present a hallmark in critically ill male COVID-19 patients.