Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioneurotic edema (HAE) is a complement-related clinical disorder with a deficiency of the C1 esterase inhibitor protein. Eight patients with severe attacks of the disease were treated with the adrenal "androgen" dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS). Steroid therapy for 3-28 months resulted in dramatic improvement in their clinical state and a moderate increase in the serum concentration of C1 inhibitor. There was a significant increase in the serum level of either unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone (D) or of DS during treatment.