To investigate the association of sex hormones with the severity of diabetic foot ulcer(DFU), and to analyze the influential factors of prognosis in male patients with DFU.

The clinical data of 204 hospitalized male patients with DFU and 63 male patients with high risk of DFU were collected. Serum concentrations of sex hormones from these patients, including FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, free testosterone(FT), and sex hormone binding globulin were tested at admission. Patients were followed for 6 months to observe the rate of wound healing and recurrence, the occurrences of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, as well as the all-cause death.

In male patients with DFU, the serum concentration of estradiol increased gradually with the increase of Wagner grades(P_trend=0.001 2), while testosterone and FT decreased(P_trend=0.005 and P=0.002 7). The serum concentration of prolactin increased with the severity of infection(P_trend=0.021), while FT(P_trend=0.007)decreased. High level of estradiol was one of the risk factors associated with the occurrences of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events(OR=1.11, P<0.05)and death(OR=1.01, P<0.05)in male patients with DFU.

The hormones secreted from pituitary-gonadal axis are changed in male patients with DFU. Abnormality of these hormones might suggest the severity and prognosis of DFU. (Chin J Endocrinol Metab, 2015, 31: 23-27)

Diabetic foot ulcer; Estradiol; Testosterone; Free testosterone