Method for reducing mast cell mediated allergic reactions

A method for reducing mast cell mediated allergic reactions in a patient in need thereof which comprises administering to said patient an effective amount of a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) derivative having the general formulas I and II and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.12, R.sup.13, R.sup.14 and R.sup.19 are independently H, OH, halogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl or C.sub.1-10 alkoxy;

• R.sup.5 and R.sup.11 are independently OH, SH, H, halogen, pharmaceutically acceptable ester, pharmaceutically acceptable thioester, pharmaceutically acceptable ether, pharmaceutically accceptable thioether, pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic esters, pharmaceutically acceptable monosaccharide, disaccharide or oligosaccharide, spirooxirane, spirothirane, --OSO.sub.2 R.sup.20, --OPOR.sup.20 R.sup.21 or C.sub.1-10 alkyl;
• or
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 taken together are .dbd.O;
• or
• R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 taken together are .dbd.O;
• R.sup.15 is
• (1) H, halogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl or C.sub.1-10 alkoxy when R.sup.16 is --C(O)OR.sup.22 or
• (2) H, halogen, OH or C.sub.1-10 alkyl when R.sup.16 is halogen, OH or C.sub.1-10 alkyl
• or
• (3) H, halogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.1-10 alkenyl, C.sub.1-10 alkynyl, formyl, C.sub.1-10 alkanoyl or epoxy when R.sup.16 is OH;
• or
• (4) OH, SH, H, halogen, pharmaceutically acceptable ester, pharmaceutically acceptable thioester, pharmaceutically acceptable ether, pharmaceutically accceptable thioether, pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic esters, pharmaceutically acceptable monosaccharide, disaccharide or oligosaccharide, spirooxirane, spirothirane, --OSO.sub.2 R.sup.20 or --OPOR.sup.20 R.sup.21 when R.sup.16 is H;
• or
• R.sup.15 and R.sup.16 taken together are .dbd.O;
• R.sup.17 and R.sup.18 are independently (1) H, --OH, halogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl or C.sub.1-10 alkoxy when R.sup.6 is H, OH, halogen, C.sub.1-10 alkyl or --C(O)OR.sup.22 or
• (2) H, (C.sub.1-10 alkyl).sub.n amino, (C.sub.1-10 alkyl).sub.n amino-C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.1-10 alkoxy, hydroxy-C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.1-10 alkoxy-C.sub.1-10 alkyl, (halogen).sub.m -C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.1-10 alkanoyl, formyl, C.sub.1-10 carbalkoxy or C.sub.1-10 alkanoyloxy when R.sub.15 and R.sup.16 taken together are .dbd.O;
• or
• R.sup.17 and R.sup.18 taken together are .dbd.O or taken together with the carbon to which they are attached form a 3-6 member ring containing 0 or 1 oxygen atom;
• or
• R.sup.15 and R.sup.17 taken together with the carbons to which they are attached form an epoxide ring;
• R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 are independently OH, pharmaceutically acceptable ester or pharmaceutically acceptable ether;
• R.sup.22 is H, (halogen).sub.m -C.sub.1-10 alkyl or C.sub.1-10 alkyl;
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• m is 1, 2 or 3.