Serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone in women with severe atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.
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.
Kasperska-Zajac
A
A
Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. kasperska@plusnet.pl
Brzoza
Z
Z
Rogala
B
B
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*
D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate