DHEA - Dehydroepiandrosterone:
Why DHEA Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone synthesized by adrenal glands in the body of males and females. DHEA helps produce other hormones including testosterone (in males) and estrogen (in females). The natural surge of DHEA peaks in early adulthood (In boys excess DHEA can cause virilization – masculine physical characters and in girls precocious or early puberty) and then gradually falls with an increase in age. Synthetic DHEA is available as tablets, capsules, powder, topical cream and gel. DHEA is also used in anti-ageing therapy and also to treat depression, osteoporosis (increases bone density), weight loss, improves sexual function, adrenal insufficiency, vaginal atrophy and symptoms of menopause. DHEA levels may be low in people with conditions such as type-2 diabetes, adrenal deficiency, AIDS, kidney diseases, anorexia nervosa etc. Contraindication of not to use is also mentioned since being a steroid hormone. It may increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers (including prostate, breast, ovarian cancers etc), increase male pattern hair growth in female (hirsutism), causes ischemic heart diseases (since it decreases HDL Cholesterol levels), worsens psychiatric disorders like mood swing and increases the incidence of mortality. DHEA is also found to cause interactions including antipsychotics, lithium, triazolam, valproic acid, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, estrogen, testosterone carbamazepine etc. Usage of b DHEA id banned in sports (Drug of Abuse) under the category of anabolic agents by World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. DHEA test is checked for adrenal function, often checked in women with low libido or amenorrhea, PCODs etc, and also in women who have strong signs of excess male hormones such as male traits (body pattern), excess hair growth, oily skin, acne, irregular periods or problems related to pregnancy. In children, high levels of DHEA is seen congenital adrenal hyperplasia, infertility in male patients and also in tumours of the adrenal, adrenal dysfunction, hypopituitarism etc. Altered levels of DHEA is found to influence the immune system. DHEA test results can be influenced by medications such as insulin, opiates, corticosteroids, danazol etc. Other tests include pituitary hormones, FSH, LH, prolactin, estrogen testosterone etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
