Table 1

Mean concentrations of serum testosterone (nmol/l) and dihydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS, μmol/l) in incident cases with RF positive RA, RF negative RA, and their matched controls

Population group		RF positive RA			RF negative RA				RA in total
Sex hormone		No of sets	Cases		Controls	p Value			No of sets	Cases	Controls	p Value	No of sets	Cases	Controls	p Value
All men
Testosterone	27	25.6	26.4	0.75	5	28.4	26.2	0.42		32	26.1	26.4	0.88
DHEAS	27	11.5	10.2	0.24	5	9.6	9.3	0.94		32	11.2	10.1	0.28

All women
Testosterone	57	1.4	1.4	0.94	27	1.4	1.3	0.94		84	1.4	1.4	0.91
DHEAS	57	5.5	5.5	0.86	27	4.7	5.3	0.41		84	5.2	5.5	0.50

Women aged <50 at the onset of RA
Testosterone	18	1.3	1.5	0.22	9	1.3	1.4	0.58		27	1.3	1.5	0.17
DHEAS	18	7.8	8.2	0.74	9	5.3	5.4	0.90		27	7.0	7.3	0.72

Women aged <50 at entry but ⩾50 at the onset of RA
Testosterone	16	1.5	1.4	0.85	9	1.5	1.6	0.68		25	1.5	1.5	0.91
DHEAS	16	6.0	5.1	0.10	9	5.2	6.1	0.63		25	5.7	5.5	0.74

Women aged ⩾50 at entry
Testosterone	23	1.5	1.3	0.49	9	1.3	1.1	0.27		32	1.4	1.2	0.26
DHEAS	23	3.2	3.7	0.30	9	3.6	4.3	0.10		32	3.3	3.9	0.13