Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in hemodialysis patients

Aim. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S) are the major steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal gland. The secretion normally decreases with age. Administration of DHEA has been reported to have beneficial effects on diabetes and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum level of DHEA-S in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods. 124 haemodialysis patients (56M, 68F, mean age 47 ± 12 years) who received bicarbonate HD 3 times a week were studied. The mean duration of a HD session was 4 hours. Control group consisted of 30 healthy persons. Serum level of DHEA-S and of cortisol was detected by IFA-assay. Results. The serum level of DHEA-S did not differ in the HD patients and control group. The serum level of DHEA-S in male patients was higher than that in females: median - 5,7 (IQR 3,9-9,8) vs median 2,6 (IQR 1,3-4,2) µmol/l, resp., p < 0,001). There was negative correlation between the serum DHEA-S and age (r = -0,36; p < 0,001). Cortisol did not differ in male and female: median - 468,0 (IQR 365,5-587,0) vs median - 443,0 (IQR 323,0-609,5) nmol/l, resp., p = 0,6). We did not detect a correlation between DHEA-S and cortisol level (r = 0,04; p = 0,7). Multiple regression analysis has shown that age, gender and serum albumin levels were independent predictors of serum DHEA-S. Conclusions. The gender and age are the main determinants of serum level of DHEAS in HD patients and low level of DHEA-S is associated with low serum albumin level. Relationship between DHEA-S and albumin is unknown, but it is possible that worse prognosis in HD patients with hypoalbuminemia can be partially associated with low DHEA-S level.

альбумин, гемодиализ, дегидроэпиандростерон сульфат, хроническая почечная недостаточность

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