Circadian serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in postmenopausal asthmatic women before and after long-term hormone replacement.
OBJECTIVE
To assess mean 24-h serum concentrations of dehydroepianrosterone (DHEAS) in postmenopausal women with asthma before and after hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
Studies were performed in 55 asthmatic and 20 healthy postmenopausal women aged 48-60 before HRT and after 6 months of transdermal 17b-estradiol (E2) and medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment (cyclical method). Serum DHEAS concentrations were assessed with the use of RIA method.


RESULTS
In the group of postmenopausal asthmatic women treated with glucocorticoids the mean 24 h DHEAS serum levels were lower than in a similar group not treated with glucocorticoids and a control group of healthy postmenopausal women. However, in both groups of asthmatic women (e.g. glucocorticoid treated and untreated) a significant increase of mean daily DHEAS levels after 6 months of HRT was observed. The hormone concentrations did not change in control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal asthmatic women show diminished circadian dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate serum concentrations irrespective whether they were treated with glucocorticoids or not. However, after 6 months of hormonal replacement therapy in these groups increased levels of DHEA were found.
Kos-Kudla
B
B
Department of Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland. beatakos@ka.onet.pl
Ostrowska
Z
Z
Marek
B
B
Ciesielska-Kopacz
N
N
Kudla
M
M
Kajdaniuk
D
D
Siemidska
L
L
Strzelczyk
J
J
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate