A: A new therapy that shows promise in helping alleviate or prevent symptoms in patients with systemic lupus is being studied by researchers at the Arizona Arthritis Center at The University of Arizona College of Medicine. (Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect any organ or system in the body and that flares in patients, that is, it comes and goes.)
* The two-year study is on the effects of the hormone DHEA (dehydroepi-androsterone) on patients with lupus. Although many medical experts remain skeptical about DHEA, the hormone shows promise for making lupus patients feel better. Female hormones seem to worsen symptoms during pregnancy and menstrual cycles. The hypothesis behind the DHEA study is that this hormone could counter this hormonal activity and lessen the effects.
Mark Iannini, M.D., associate professor, clinical medicine, Department of Medicine, the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson