title: Serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone in women with severe atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although a growing body of evidence indicates that androgens modulate immune response and certain alterations in sex hormone metabolism and balance are thought to predispose an individual to immune-mediated diseases, few studies have investigated the role of androgens in atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and total testosterone in women with severe AEDS to characterize the hormonal milieu of such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of DHEA-S and total testosterone in 13 female patients with severe AEDS were compared with concentrations in weight- and age-matched healthy controls. Measurement was by electrical chemiluminescence immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in serum concentrations of DHEA-S or testosterone between the 2 groups. We found no correlation between serum concentrations of DHEA-S and total immunoglobulin E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This small study suggests there may be no abnormalities in peripheral blood concentrations of DHEAS-S and total testosterone in women with severe AEDS.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. kasperska@plusnet.pl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasperska-Zajac
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Brzoza
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogala
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D013577:Syndrome; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate