Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Prevention
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of DHEA on endothelial dysfunction in
patients with systemic lupus by measuring:
1. changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and
2. changes in biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Patients will be enrolled in a randomized,
double-blinded crossover trial of DHEA or placebo for ten weeks, then crossed over to
the alternate treatment arm after a six-week washout period.
HYPOTHESIS: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) administration in premenopausal women with SLE
modifies cardiovascular risk by improving vascular endothelial function and other biomarkers
associated with cardiovascular heart disease.