Source: Endocrine  |  Posted 9 years ago

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares in adult women can be significantly reduced with oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), say Taiwanese researchers.

DHEA treatment was found to be well tolerated at a dosage of 200 mg a day and to improve the overall assessment of disease activity by patients.

This multi-centre randomized, double-blind study of 120 adult women with active SLE was conducted by investigators at the National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Veteran's General Hospital, Taichung, Veteran's General Hospital, Taipei and Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Sixty-one patients were given 200 mg of oral DHEA a day and 61 received placebo for 24 weeks.

The Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM) was used to score the mean change from baseline to primary end point after 24 weeks of treatment. Secondary end points included change in SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, time to first flare as well as the physician's and subject's global assessment scores at week 24.

Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups.

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in mean reductions in SLAM scores from baseline, DHEA -2.6