title: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) effects on HIV replication and host immunity: a randomized placebo-controlled study.
abstract: Prior studies have indicated that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may have immunomodulatory properties as well as positive effects on mood, quality of life, and body composition. Preliminary data suggest that DHEA inhibits expression of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV) in latently infected cells; thus, it might be a potential adjunct to currently available antiretroviral therapy. The objective was to determine DHEA's impact on latent HIV infection, persistent viral replication, immunity, and nonimmune aspects of health restoration. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 24-week outpatient intervention included 40 subjects with suppressed HIV viremia on a stable antiretroviral regimen. Participants were randomized with equal probability to receive either DHEA or placebo for 12 weeks, followed by open-label DHEA for an additional 12 weeks. Intensive virologic monitoring included plasma viral load assays (lower limits of detection 50 copies/ml and 2.5 copies/ml) and quantitative cultures of replication-competent virus reservoirs in blood cells. A full battery of immunologic measurements was performed. Measurements of hormones, body weight, and body composition were obtained. Quality of life was assessed using validated questionnaires. DHEA was bioavailable as ascertained by increased levels of DHEA, DHEA(S), and androstenedione in recipients' plasma compared to the control group. The titers of infectious HIV culturable from blood trended upward in the DHEA arm although there was no significant change in plasma HIV RNA level. No significant immune effects were observed with DHEA. There appeared to be no benefit with regard to lean muscle mass or bone density in the DHEA recipients. DHEA treatment had a positive impact on overall quality of life. DHEA supplementation in fully suppressed HIV patients was associated with an improvement in quality of life but appeared to have no beneficial antiviral, immunomodulatory, hormonal, or body composition effects, suggesting that it not be routinely used as an adjunctive therapy in this population.
authors.affiliation: Community Consortium, Positive Health Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. dabrams@php.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Donald I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: Starley B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Shade
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couey
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McCune
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bacchetti
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lorrie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Epling
authors.forename: Teri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liegler
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001682:Biological Availability; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D012367:RNA, Viral; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone