PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S Th Valtysdottir
AU  - L Wide
AU  - R Hallgren
TI  - Mental wellbeing and quality of sexual life in women with primary Sjögren’s syndrome are related to circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate
AID  - 10.1136/ard.62.9.875
DP  - 2003 Sep 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 875--879
VI  - 62
IP  - 9
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/62/9/875.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/62/9/875.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2003 Sep 01; 62
AB  - Objectives: To evaluate the possible effect of androgen status on sexuality and mental wellbeing in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). Methods: Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), testosterone (T), androstenedione, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and the SHBG/T ratio were measured in 21 women with pSS. Sexual life was assessed by a Swedish version of the McCoy scale, which covers sexual experience and responsiveness during the past 30 days. A standardised questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB), was used to examine quality of life and psychological symptoms in patients with pSS. Results: Positive correlations were found between DHEA-S serum levels and the total McCoy score (rs=0.62; p<0.01), as well as the subscales of this score reflecting arousal (0.59; p<0.05), desire (rs=0.52; p<0.05), and satisfaction (rs=0.66; p<0.01). Serum DHEA-S concentrations were also related to the total PGWB score (rs=0.60; p<0.01) and subscales of this score: depression (rs=0.62; p<0.01), wellbeing (rs=0.64; p<0.01), general health (rs=0.67; p<0.01), and self control (rs=0.67; p<0.01). Total McCoy and PGWB scores and their subscales were not related to the serum levels of testosterone and androstenedione or the T/SHBG ratio. Conclusions: Circulating levels of the weak androgen DHEA-S are positively related to the quality of sexual life and mental wellbeing in women with pSS.