To study dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DEA-S) in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and its correlation with body mass and serum albumin.DEA-S and cortisol in the serum were measured at enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in 124 patients (56 males, 68 females, mean age 47+/-12 years) on chronic HD. HD was made for 4 hours, on the average, 3 times a week using bicarbonate solution for dialysis. DEA-S and cortisol in blood serum were measured with EIA.A DEA-S level was higher in males than in females (7.6+/-5.3 and 3.4 +/-2.7 mcmol/l, respectively, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the age and content of DEA-S (r = -0.36; p < 0.001). No correlation was established between DEA-S and cortisol content in blood serum (r-0.06; p = 0.6). Serum albumin was less in patients with low DEA-S. The multifactorial regression analysis showed an independent direct relationship between the levels of DEA-S and albumin in blood serum.DEA-S levels in HD patients depend on gender and age. The hormone concentrations are higher in males. Hypoalbuminemia in HD patients is associated with low DEA-S in blood serum.