Anti–interleukin‐6 receptor antibody therapy favors adrenal androgen secretion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

Abstract

Neutralization of IL-6 increases secretion of biologically active adrenal androgens in relation to that of precursor hormones and estrogens. This is another important indication that proinflammatory cytokines interfere with adrenal androgen steroidogenesis in patients with RA.