Abstract
Peripheral serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), an-drostenedione (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 an increased metabolism due to interaction of the drug with sex hormone-binding globulin.