Some Thoughts about Behçet's disease

Some Thoughts about Behçet's disease (A letter sent to some indivudals interested in Behçet's disease)

I have studied DHEA since 1984. I have found that many diseases exhibit malfunctions / deficiencies in DHEA. I accidentally came across Behçet's disease in a literature search; I had not heard of this disease before this time. The article, in which I found reference to Behçet's disease, fit some of my work in other diseases. I examined Behçet's disease according to my ideas and found some interesting relationships.

This article immediately suggested to me that Behçet's disease may be due to low DHEA. When I saw the symptoms, it also suggested to me that low DHEA may be involved as I think all tissues rely on sufficient levels of DHEA for optimal function. I found no research regarding DHEA levels in Behçet's disease. Therefore, I looked for what I consider to be another marker of low DHEA, that is, high prolactin. A new report found that "Prolactinemia was significantly higher (mean=19.34 ng/mL) in BD patients vs controls (mean=9.83 ng/mL) (p=0.009)." (Eur J Ophthalmol. 2007 May-Jun;17(3):404-7). I think that when sufficient levels of DHEA are produced by the adrenals, this feeds back to reduce prolactin production. (Prolactin has been found to specifically stimulate DHEA production by the adrenal glands. It has been found, in a study of cortisol, the other major adrenal gland steroid, that “the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis is partially suppressed in Behçet's disease.” (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2006 Jul;20(6):721-5). Cortisol levels are partially normal in BD but I think DHEA may be low. A prolonged, excessive cortisol to DHEA ratio should produce damage.)

"Conclusion: During the aging process in rat arteries, the expression of eNOS is lowered, the function of oxidation resistance is weakened, and the response of the vascular smooth muscle to NO is apparently decreased. DHEA is able to ameliorate the function of NO-related signal pathways and delay the aging process of the blood vessels." Gerontology 2007; 53: 234-237

I suggest that low DHEA may be the disease-producing factor in Behçet's disease which produces its symptoms in a pattern characteristic of affected individuals according to their genome, their specific set of genes. Low DHEA may affect other individuals in a different way according to their genes. Treatment with DHEA may ameliorate / cure Behçet's disease.