Relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arteriosclerosis is more likely to occur in women with low dehydroepiandrosterone level which causes decreased antioxidation and elevation of blood lipid levels.</p>