title: Relation between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and blood pressure levels in a population-based sample.
abstract: Endogenous dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels have been reported to be positively related to blood pressure levels. To further analyze this association, we quantified DHEAS in middle-aged subjects (mean age +/-SEM: 57.8+/-0.1 years) of a population-based sample (n = 646). DHEAS levels were higher in hypertensive as compared with normotensive individuals (1.26+/-0.04 v. 1.09+/-0.03 microg/mL, P = .01). After adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index, DHEAS levels were significantly related to systolic blood pressure (P = .01). In addition, in a subgroup of individuals without antihypertensive medication adjusted DHEAS levels were significantly related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (n = 461; P<.05, both). DHEAS levels were also related to aldosterone (r = 0.15; P = .002) and androstenedione (its main metabolite; r = 0.66; P<.001) but not to renin levels. Like DHEAS, aldosterone, but not androstenedione, was significantly related to blood pressure levels and hypertension status. In a regression analysis that accounted for aldosterone and renin levels, both DHEAS and aldosterone kept their significant relationships with systolic blood pressure levels. Taken together, we observed a consistent positive association between endogenous DHEAS and systolic blood pressure levels that was independent of other, similarly regulated, adrenal steroids.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I & II, University of Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schunkert
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Hense
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andus
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Riegger
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Straub
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000735:Androstenedione; D000450:Aldosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D012083:Renin