IMPORTANCE OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULFATE ASSESSMENT WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION FOR ADRENAL TUMOURS AND ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Objective. To investigate the significance of DHEAS assessment in males of different ages. Methods. Retrospective cohort study of patients investigated in two large academic centres. Results. The data of DHEAS assessment of 3533 patients (3013 females and 520 males) was analysed. DHEAS was 1.6 - 13.5 times more frequently investigated in women than in men. A peak of DHEAS evaluation test for women was at 25 years old and distribution was uniform in males over decades, excepting being lower in 0-9 and 75+ages. In the age group 10-24 years, DHEAS levels were higher in females. After 45 years, DHEAS was higher in men than in women. Analysis of 510 case records showed low DHEAS levels in boys (0-9 years) and in men aged 65 84+. Higher DHEAS levels were detected as a peak at 30 years old, but never after 55 years. In individuals with low DHEAS levels prevailed congenital adrenal hyperplasia (32%), adrenal tumours (30%) and primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency (19%). High DHEAS levels prevailed in patients with arterial hypertension (26%), overweightobesity -(19%), non-toxic goiter (17%) and alopecia (9%). In the normal DHEAS miscellaneous diagnoses were met most frequently - 40%. Disorders exceeding 5% were non-toxic goiter (19%), adrenal tumours - 17%, overweight/obesity 16% and arterial hypertension- 8%. In 71 women and 124 men adrenal neoplasms were detected. Higher frequency of these was observed in women in their 30s. A peak of adrenal neoplasms in men was at their 70s. This gender difference was not conditioned by earlier attempts to seek medical care by women. A significant correlation of DHEAS, weight, body mass index and systolic blood pressure with diastolic blood pressure was found. Conclusion. Our study permits to determine which DHEAS secretion and clinical pattern might be associated in males of different ages.