Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and growth axis hormones in patients with ischemic heart disease.
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to determine whether decreases in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and growth axis components precede cardiovascular disease or are a consequence of it.


METHODS
We measured the concentrations in serum of DHEA-S, ACTH, cortisol, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in 30 male controls and also in 37 male patients on days 0, 2, 5, 7 and 9 after suffering a myocardial infarction (MI).


RESULTS
There was no significant variation in any of these parameters between the controls and the patients on day 0. However, we found a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in the DHEA-S concentrations of the patients between day 0 and subsequent days (days 2, 5, 7 and 9).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the decrease in DHEA-S in patients with MI is a consequence and not a cause of the disease.
Osorio
A
A
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Clínico Hospital, University of Granada, Spain.
Gutierrez
M A
MA
Ortega
E
E
Ruiz-Requena
E
E
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood*
D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone