Abstract
A simplified method for the determination of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) by acid fluorescence reaction is described. DHEA or DHEA-S produces strong fluorescence by treatment with acetic acid-sulfuric acid (4: 6v/v) at 100° for 10 minutes. The serum sample was deproteinized with 1.5 M perchioric acid and the supernatant was heated at 100° for 40 minutes. The hydrolyzed steroids were extracted with methylene chloride, washed with sodium hydroxide and evaporated to dryness. The residue was submitted to DHEA determination by acid fluorescence reaction.
Correlation between urinary 17-KS and serum DHEA-S was studied and high correlation was observed (r=0.745). Serum DHEA-S can be an indicator of androgenic steroid metabolism as a substitute of urinary 17-KS.
