DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE AS AN INDICATOR OF ADRENAL ANDROGEN FUNCTION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (1) , 69-73
Abstract
Whether serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) assays could be used in lieu of urinary 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) determinations was studied. To delineate normal values, serum DHEA-S levels were measured in 41 normal women (controls). These averaged 1.78 .+-. 0.1 (SE) .mu.g/ml and ranged from 0.3 to 2.8 .mu.g/ml. Serum DHEA-S and urinary 17-KS and creatinine were measured in 71 patients with and without signs of androgen excess. Serum DHEA-S levels did not correlate with body weight, surface area, or ponderal index, and were not elevated in obese women without androgen excess. Both normal and elevated serum DHEA-S concentrations correlated well with total urinary 17-KS when corrected for creatinine (P < 0.0005). In another group of 26 patients, the 2 urinary 17-KS fractions androsterone (A) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) correlated well with serum DHEA-S levels, but the 3rd urinary 17-KS fraction, etiocholanolone (E), did not correlate. Of the 26 patients who had elevated serum DHEA-S concentrations (11) excreted increased amounts of urinary A and DHEA but not E. Evidently serum DHEA-S levels are much more conveniently measured than urinary 17-KS and should replace the latter because DHEA-S is a better indicator of adrenal androgen secretion.