Indices of Free Testosterone And Hyperandrogenemia in Relation To Hirsutism in Middle Aged Egyptian females

Abstract

Hirsutism is an androgen excess related disorder that commonly affects women causing a variety of negative metabolic disturbances. Early and accurate diagnoses of androgen over- production or hypersensitivity to normal circulating androgen have an important implication for treatment and follow up of patients. The aim of this work is to study the validity of hyperandrogonemic index (HAI) and index of free testosterone (IFT) in, diagnosis of hirsute Egyptian women, and its correlation to hair score as a clinical marker for hirsutism. Twenty-four hirsute women aged 19-32 y's, median (24.25 ± 4.3) were studied. Ten age matched nonhirsute females, were studied as controls. Patients and control were subjected to the following, full history and clinical examination. Biochemical and hormonal parameters were measured, fasting blood sugar (FBLS), 2 hours post prandial blood sugar (2h pp BL. S), serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Dihydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) androstenedion (ADION), prolactin (PL) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Index of free testosterone (IFT) and index of hyperandrogenemia (IHA) were calculated. Results showed significant higher BMI (P< 0.009), 2hrs PPBLS. (P< 0.001), TT (P< 0.005), FT (P< 0.000), SHBG (P< 0.02) and (ADION) (P< 0.000) in hirsute females compared to controls. Hair score was positively correlated with IFT only while it was not correlated with all of the measured hormones. FT was positively correlated with BMI (P< 0.004), FBLS (P< 0.001) and 2hrs PPBL.S (P< 0.000). While TT was positively correlated with BMI (P< 0.001). Androstenedion was positively correlated with systolic BL.P (P< 0.000), diastolic BL.P (P< 0.02), FBL.S (P< 0.001) and 2hrs PPBL.S (P< 0.000). IFT was positively correlated with hair score (P< 0.05), BMI (P< 0.01), systolic BL.P (P< 0.004), FBL.S (P< 0.001) and 2hrs PPBL.S (P< 0.01). SHBG was negatively correlated with systolic BL.P (P< 0.04), FBL.S (P< 0.05) and 2hrs PPBL.S (P< 0.03).