DHEA improves mental status and libido in SLE

[Guest guest]

Rheumawire

June 11, 2004 Nainggolan

DHEA improves mental status and libido in SLE

Berlin, Germany - Treatment with low doses of the male hormone

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) improved mental well-being and libido in

women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a small

Swedish study reported at EULAR 2004 today.

But Dr Gunnel Nordmark (Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden) stressed

that the treatment did not improve physical well-being, physical

function, or vitality and that although it may be safe to use this

therapy short term, the long-term safety of this regimen remains

unknown. [1]

Women with SLE have below-normal levels of DHEA; in addition, levels

are further suppressed by corticosteroid treatment, Nordmark explained.

Previous studies with DHEA have shown a mild reduction in disease

activity, but these involved doses of up to 200 mg/day and resulted in

side effects, she noted. Hence, together with colleagues, she decided to

try using lower doses of DHEA. They randomized 41 women with SLE to

receive either DHEA or placebo for 6 months. Those 45 or younger

received 30 mg of DHEA daily and those 46 or over received 20 mg/day.

Both the placebo and active-treatment groups also received 5 mg of

prednisone daily. After 6 months, the trial became an open-label study

and all 37 continuing participants received DHEA for an additional 6

months (3 patients withdrew due to adverse effects and 1 was excluded).

Normal DHEA levels were achieved with treatment, and self-rated measures

of mental well-being and libido improved significantly. And in a survey,

the partners of the women reported that they " got more done " while on

DHEA.

Side effects included an increase in body hair, alterations in waist/hip

ratio, mild acne, oily skin, a reduction in blood pressure, and a

lowering of HDL. This last effect has been seen in other studies of DHEA

and may be a cause for concern, Nordmark commented to rheumawire. Given

that patients with SLE are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease than

the general population, lowering the levels of " good cholesterol " is not

ideal, and this may 1 reason not to give DHEA long term, she noted.

However, as a short-term fix to mental stress or impaired sexuality,

low-dose DHEA is a valid treatment option, she concluded.

Source

Nordmark G, Bengtsson D, Larsson A, et al. Effects of

DHEA on quality of life in glucocorticoid treated women with SLE.

Presented at: EULAR 2004; Berlin, Germany; June 9-12, 2004. Abstract

OP0180.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org