title: Low serum levels of DHEAS in untreated polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To address a controversy regarding the existence of a relative adrenal hypofunction in patients with untreated polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) we evaluated baseline serum levels of ACTH, cortisol, and DHEAS in a cohort of patients with recent onset PMR/GCA not previously treated with glucocorticoids, in comparison with healthy controls. Possible correlations between baseline DHEAS levels and laboratory measures of disease activity were also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basal serum levels of these hormones were prospectively investigated in 25 patients with active untreated disease and compared with those of 25 age- and sex-matched control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 25 patients, 19 had isolated PMR and 6 had biopsy-proven GCA + PMR. Basal levels of cortisol and ACTH in PMR/GCA patients did not differ from control subjects; in relation to inflammatory status, lower than expected basal production of cortisol was observed in active untreated PMR/GCA. Baseline serum DHEAS levels were significantly lower in all patients compared with controls. In these patients, a significant correlation was found between baseline DHEAS values and laboratory measures of disease activity. The percentage of DHEAS reduction and the severity of inflammatory response were higher in women than in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with PMR/GCA with new-onset active disease before steroid treatment have inappropriately normal cortisol levels regarding the ongoing inflammation, and significantly lower levels of DHEAS compared to the age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. These data support the existence of a relative adrenal hypofunction in PMR and GCA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-Institut D'investigació Biomèdica De Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Spain. 31577edd@comb.es
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Narváez
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bernad
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz Torné
authors.forename: Jaime Vilaseca
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Momplet
authors.forename: Jordi Zaragoza
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Montpel
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nolla
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valverde-García
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone