Effects of prasterone on bone mineral density in women with active systemic lupus erythematosus receiving chronic glucocorticoid therapy.

Objective: To assess prevention of bone mineral density (BMD) loss and durability of the response during treatment with prasterone in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving chronic glucocorticoids.

Methods: 155 patients with SLE received 200 mg/day prasterone or placebo for 6 months in a double-blind phase. Subsequently, 114 patients were re-randomized to receive 200 or 100 mg/day prasterone for 12 months in an open-label phase.

Effects of prasterone on bone mineral density in women with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving chronic glucocorticoid therapy.

Objective: To assess the effects of treatment with prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone) on bone mineral density (BMD) in female patients with mild to moderate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving chronic treatment with glucocorticoids.

Methods: Fifty-five female patients with SLE who had received prednisone (or glucocorticoid equivalent) /= 6 months were treated for 1 year with either prasterone 200 mg/day (n = 24) or placebo (n = 31) in this randomized, double blind trial. Prasterone or placebo was added to each patient's one or more concomitant standard SLE medications, including glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, antimalarials, methotrexate, azathioprine, and other immunosuppressives, which were to be maintained at fixed doses for the duration of the study.

Effects of prasterone on disease activity and symptoms in women with active systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To determine whether prasterone administration results in improvement or stabilization of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity and its symptoms.

Methods: Women with active SLE were treated with prasterone 200 mg/day plus standard SLE treatments or with placebo plus standard SLE treatments for up to 12 months in this randomized, double-blind investigation conducted at 27 centers. Standard SLE treatments included prednisone (/=6 weeks prior to enrollment and remain unchanged during protocol treatment.

Effects of prasterone on corticosteroid requirements of women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate whether treatment with prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]) would allow the dosage of prednisone (or an equivalent corticosteroid) to be reduced to < or = 7.5 mg/day for 2 months or longer while maintaining stable or reduced disease activity in steroid-dependent women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized trial, 191 female SLE patients receiving prednisone (10-30 mg/day) were treated daily with either placebo, 100 mg of oral prasterone (an adrenal androgen), or 200 mg of oral prasterone for 7-9-months.