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DHEA Supplementation Linked to Improved Quality of Life in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Presented at EULAR

By Paula Moyer

BERLIN, GERMANY -- June 15, 2004 -- Supplementary treatment with the androgenic adrenal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is associated with an improved quality of life in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), say researchers.

In findings presented here June 11th at the European Congress of Rheumatology, principal investigator Gunnel Nordmark, MD, consultant with the rheumatology department at the University of Uppsala in Uppsala, Sweden, said,
"The formulation we used is available by prescription only in Sweden." Therefore, she stressed that the findings may not be applicable to DHEA supplements purchased without a prescription.

She and her coinvestigators wanted to study the effects of DHEA therapy in women with SLE because earlier studies had detected subnormal serum levels of both DHEA and its sulphated form, DHEAS, in such patients. Although this finding may be due to ongoing glucocorticoid treatment, DHEA and DHEAS serum levels are also low in steroid-naïve patients with SLE.

Forty-one women with SLE who were taking at least 5 mg prednisolone daily were recruited to participate in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The investigators followed the women for 6 months, during which they took placebo, 30 mg of DHEA daily if they 45 years old or younger, or 20 mg of DHEA daily if they were at least 46 years old. After the double-blind period, the investigators followed the women for an additional 6-month open phase and offered the treatment to all of the patients.

Dr. Nordmark and her investigative team used for quality-of-life questionnaires to assess the patients' quality of life at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. At 6 months, the patients' partners completed a questionnaire assessing the patients' mood and behavior.

When treated with DHEA, the women had increased serum levels of sulphated DHEA. At baseline the mean level was subnormal; after treatment these levels were normal. The DHEA group improved in the Short Form-36 (SF-36) "role emotional" domain and in the Health-Related Quality of Life-56 (HSCL-56) total score. Their partners reported greater responses to the "gets more done" question compared to placebo (all P <.05).

During the open phase, the women who had been on placebo improved in the SF-36 "mental health" domain over their 6-month scores (P <.05). Dr. Nordmark said that these women showed tendencies for improvement in HSCL-56 total score (P =.10). Both groups improved in McCoy's Sex Scale during active treatment (P <.05). DHEA replacement decreased high-density lipid (HDL) cholesterol, and it increased insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and hematocrit. Dr. Nordmark said that she and her colleagues documented no effects of treatment on bone density or disease activity, and they also documented no serious adverse events


[Presentation title: Effects of DHEA on Quality of Life in Glucocorticoid Treated Women with SLE. Abstract OP0180]

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