Peripheral levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and testosterone following different doses of danazol

Peripheral serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T) were measured in two groups of premenopausal women with fibrocystic breast disease, given 200 and 400 mg of danazol a day respectively for 6 months. During treatment, DHAS levels increased and DHA, DHA/DHAS ratio, A4, and T decreased. A tendency towards dose dependency was observed. The changes in DHAS, DHA and DHA/DHAS ratio were interpreted as resulting from inhibition of liver sulfatase activity by danazol. The decreased A4 and T levels probably reflect a suppression of ovarian steroidogenesis due to enzyme inhibition by danazol, and for the latter steroid also and increased metabolism due to interaction of the drug with sex hormone-binding globulin.