[Relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Forty premenopausal and 40 postmenopausal women were examined for serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone and intima-media thickness of the carotid artery, and the serum concentrations of lipids, estrogen, endothelin, and E-selectin were also measured.


RESULTS
Compared with premenopausal women, the mean intima-media thickness was increased but dehydroepiandrosterone and estrogen levels were decreased in postmenopausal women. A significant inverse correlation was detected between the intima-media thicknesses and dehydroepiandrosterone level. The postmenopausal women had decreased antioxidation and elevated low-density lipoprotein level.


CONCLUSIONS
Arteriosclerosis is more likely to occur in women with low dehydroepiandrosterone level which causes decreased antioxidation and elevation of blood lipid levels.
Jian
Zheng-Wei
ZW
Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Wu
Sai-Zhu
SZ
Ruan
Yun-Jun
YJ
D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone