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Very Low DHEA-S what can be causing this?

My urologist ran a DHEA-S blood level (I dont know why) it came back '9" VERY low in range of 38-400 what can cause this--before anyone answers-I did some research says :LUPUS-=I dont have LUPUS cancer-I dont think I have cancer-MRI of abdomen all organs clean .clean colonoscopy biopsy this year, says Osteoporosis-I dont have that, Hypothyroidimsm-I have that but myTSH and T2 are NORMAL and my T4 is SLIGHLY high--it;s not hypothyroidism. I have 6 heart stents  but NO current issues with blood pressure or chest pain--VERY concered.  I ave pre=Diabetes but Glucose levels are NORMAL (taking ACTOS) WHAT SYMPTOMS do I have---CHRONIS FATIGUE,CHRONIC PAIN in body, No rashes--NO headaches---No other significant symptoms a level of 9 ois very concernng!!
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Avatar universal
DHEA level is a poorly understood analyte.  You should have asked exactly why they measured it.
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you make the false assumption i KNEW this marker was being drawn-I was never told--I was emailed the test results and never told what they mean.I emailed the docto twice and called twice--he did not return my call or mail..now thy say If I want to discuss the blood--I must make a new appt...so they wont tell me anything..
3147776 tn?1549545810
I'm not finding any references to low DHEA-S being linked strongly with the conditions you describe, though some may exist.  I am finding info that low levels are linked strongly to adrenal issues.  https://labtestsonline.org/tests/dheas

If you expand the "what does the test result mean?" section, you can see some possibilities listed.
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134578 tn?1693250592
Well, my dear, I don't know why you are asking here, since you seem to have posted Dr. Internet's entire medical reference library for this and it would be kind of surprising if someone on a patient-to-patient site knows more than this about the question. Probably your best bet is to ask your actual doctor.
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2 Comments
I didn't mean that in anything but an amused way, not intending to be snarky. I guess it's possible that someone who has also had a low DHEA-S count will post in. Good luck with finding out what it means, I hope your doc is able to account for it.  -- Annie
Since posting this, I got a bit interested in the question of what causes a low DHEA-S count, and here is from a website from a medical clinic. Don't know how valid it is, but it might give you a starting point for the discussion with your doctor.

"Your DHEA and cortisol are both produced by the adrenal cortex -- so a low range DHEA may indicate a problem with cortisol. The adrenals produce cortisol in a diurnal pattern with an early morning surge to wake you up and then it tapers off during the day.

"People who are under a lot of stress have elevated cortisol levels all day and even at night. Cortisol excess leads to increased rT3 levels and hence hypothyroid symptoms along with impaired cognition, blood sugar imbalance, lower bone density, insomnia, muscle wasting, hypertension, lowered immune function, slowed wound healing and increases abdominal fat.

"After a prolonged period of stress the adrenal glands can become burned out much like the pancreas does with type II diabetes. This is what we call adrenal fatigue -- it will cause you to feel tired, rundown and overwhelmed and you will trouble getting up in the morning."
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