Effects of chronic osteoarthritis pain on neuroendocrine function in men.

Context: Chronic pain has been associated with elevated cortisol, reduced LH and testosterone (T), and/or augmented circulating or excreted catecholamines. Most endocrine studies have been conducted in patients in whom the potentially confounding effects of depression, inflammatory disease, or coexistent medication use have not been controlled.

Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that chronic pain activates ACTH-cortisol and suppresses LH-T.