Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) replacement reduces growth hormone (GH) dose requirement in female hypopituitary patients on GH replacement.

Objective: GH dose requirement is lower in ACTH replete compared with ACTH deficient hypopituitary patients suggesting that adrenal androgens may augment IGF-I generation for a given GH dose. This study aimed to determine the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) administration on GH dose requirements in hypopituitary adults.

Design: A double blind placebo controlled trial was conducted adding 50 mg DHEA to the standard replacement of hypopituitary patients, including GH, over an initial 6 months, followed by an open phase study of 6 months DHEA replacement and a final 2 month washout phase after DHEA withdrawal.

Dehydroepiandrosterone improves psychological well-being in male and female hypopituitary patients on maintenance growth hormone replacement.

Context: Patients with panhypopituitarism have impaired quality of life (QoL) despite GH replacement. They are profoundly androgen deficient, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been shown to have a beneficial effect on well-being and mood in patients with adrenal failure and possibly in hypopituitarism.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the effect of DHEA administration on mood in hypopituitary adults on established GH replacement with a constant serum IGF-I.