Endocrine Abstracts

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the crucial androgen precursor and hyperandrogenaemia is a major feature in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) is generated from DHEA by DHEA sulfotransferase (SULT2A1) activity. The conversion of DHEAS to DHEA by steroid sulfatase has been reported to be of minor significance in human adults and only desulfated DHEA can be converted toward androgens. Therefore, SULT2A1 activity represents the rate-limiting step regulating t...

In severe sepsis circulating DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) has been shown to decrease whilst serum cortisol increases. This has led to the suggestion of an intraadrenal shift from adrenal androgen towards glucocorticoid synthesis in severe stress. Patients with sepsis are therefore assumed to be DHEA deficient and have been suggested to benefit from DHEA replacement. However, only desulfated DHEA is biologically active and DHEAS and DHEA may not freely interconvert as previously though...