Role of androgen in the pathogenesis of perianal abscess in infants

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum level of androgen and perianal abscess in infants and explore its mechanism in the pathogenesis.Methods One hundred male infants with perianal abscess (experimental group) and 11 male infants with inguinal hernia (without history of incarceration) under 3 months old (control group) were studied.Serum levels of total testosterone,androstenedione,dehydroepiandrosterone were determined by chemiluminescence.Results Serum testosterone level in the experimental group[(8.01 ±-4.29) nmol/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group[(4.55 ± 1.23)nmol/L,t =2.65,P＜0.05]; Serum androstenedione level [(16.11 ± 9.5)nmol/L] was significantly higher than that in control group [(6.78-± 2.30)nmol/ L,t =3.21,P＜0.05]; Serum dehydroepiandrosterone level [(1.70-± 1.21) nmol/L] had no obvious increase,compared to that in control group [(1.23 ± 0.65) nmol/L,t =1.24,P＞0.05].Conclusions Increased androgen may play a role in the pathogenesis of the perianal abscess in infants. Key words: Androgens;  Perianal gland;  Abscess