A Study on Plasma Levels of Testosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone - sulfate ( DHEA - S ) in the Patients with Acne Vulgaris

Kim, Nack In; Oh, Hee Soo; Lee, Sang Soo; Lee, Moo Hyung; Haw, Choong Rim

Abstract

This study was performed to detect the hormonal abnormalities and to investigate the relationship between the levels of plasma testosterone and DHEA-S in 21 female patients with acne vulgaris using radioimmunoassay. The results were as follows : 1. The levels of plasma testosterone in patients group and control group(n=9) were 352+/-11.8 ng/dl, 223+/-9.7 ng/dl, respectively, and significantly elevated in patient group(p < 0.01), 2. The levels of plasma DHEA-S in patient group and control group were 286.6+/-126.8 pg/dl, 238.6+/-60.0 pg/dl, respectively, and did not show statistical significance. 3. The levels of plasma testosterones in patient subgroups classified by modified Pillsbury method were as follows minor group 32.6+5.3 ng/dl, mild group 33.4+/-15,5 ng/dl, moderate group 39.6+/-12.6 ng/dl. The testosterone levels in all the subgroups increased significantly than those in control group(352-t11.8 ng/dl) (p<0.05, p<0.05 p < 0.01) 4. The levels of plasrna DHEA-S in patient subgroups were follows minor group 242.5+/-412 pg/dl, mild group 263.9+/-166.1 pg/dl, moderate group 353.4+/-1273 pg/dl. The DE3EA-S levels in moderate group increased significantly than those in cotrol (238,6+/-60,0 pg/dl) and minor group(p<0.05). 5. There was no correlation between the plasma testosterone levels and the plasma DHEA-S levels in the acne patients.