Effect of interferon alpha on high serum androgen concentrations in HIV positive men with Kaposi's sarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
To measure serum androgen concentrations in men with HIV related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) who had been treated with recombinant interferon (IFN) alpha-2a to determine the role of androgens on the development of KS lesions.


METHODS
32 men with HIV related KS who had been treated with IFN were studied: 24 men in complete KS remission and eight not in remission. Serum androgen concentrations were determined before, during, and after IFN treatment and correlated with clinical remission.


RESULTS
All patients in complete KS remission had lower serum androgen concentrations following IFN treatment: -51% for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (p < 0.0001); -38% for DHEA sulphate (p < 0.002);-39% for androstenedione (p < 0.002); and -44% for testosterone (p < 0.007). These decreases brought the serum concentrations to about normal levels. However, IFN had varying effects on serum androgen concentrations in the men not in remission: a small decrease, a large increase in one androgen, or no change in serum androgens.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between serum androgen levels and the progression or remission of HIV associated KS suggests that androgens affect the development of KS lesions. A clear understanding of the changes in the androgen environment may provide a sound basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Christeff
N
N
Laboratoire de Biochimie Endocrinienne et Biochimic B, Faculté de Médecine et Hôpital X Bichat, Paris, France.
Gharakhanian
S
S
Thobie
N
N
Wirbel
E
E
Dalle
M T
MT
Costagliola
D
D
Nunez
E A
EA
Rozenbaum
W
W
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate