[Circadian rhythm of pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-gonadal systems in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].
Circadian rhythms were investigated in the levels of ACTH, FSH, LH, hydrocortisone, testosterone, progesterone and estradiol in 12 healthy subjects against 32 patients suffering from infiltrative lung tuberculosis. It was found out that healthy subjects have fluctuations in the above hormones which come to an acrophase in morning hours (at 7-8 a.m.), have high mean values, stable time and amplitude structure. In contrast, tuberculosis patients exhibited impaired circadian cycle of the hormones with acrophase in day and evening hours (16-20 p.m.), reduced mean levels and amplitude in fluctuation, non-coincidence in time. The derangement in the rhythm was more distinct in disseminated tuberculosis with intoxication symptoms.