DHEA: a novel adjunct for the treatment of male trauma patients

Despite significant advances in the management of trauma victims, traumatic injury with the ensuing sepsis and multiple organ failure remains the lead ing cause of death between the ages of 18 and 44 in the USA. Recently, inte rest in the clinically and experimentally observed gender dimorphic respons e to traumatic injury has led to the possibility of modulating cell and org an functions following trauma and hemorrhagic shock by the administration o f sex steroids. Here, we review the effects of the adrenal steroid dehydroe piandrosterone (DHEA), a precursor of sex steroid synthesis, on organ and i mmune functions following trauma-hemorrhage, and its potential as a novel t herapy for improving the depressed cell end organ functions in trauma patie nts.