Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction |
|---|---|
| Category | Neurological |
| Also described as | Adrenal androgen |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | HPA axis dysregulation |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Related Neurological markers in Gulf War Illness
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is DHEA / DHEA-S high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower DHEA / DHEA-S in Gulf War Illness compared with healthy Gulf War veteran controls, so no single direction is established. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is DHEA / DHEA-S associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with HPA axis dysregulation. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures DHEA / DHEA-S?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal DHEA / DHEA-S result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. DHEA / DHEA-S findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.