Plasma and urinary androgens in hirsute women during adrenal and ovarian suppression.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Plasma testosterone and urinary androsterone, aetiocholanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone have been estimated in hirsute women with oligoor amenorrhoea. The plasma testosterone in 21 hirsute patients was increased, i.e. 0.117 ± 0.004 (sem) μg/100 ml as compared with the value in normal women, 0.051 ± 0.004. One third of the patients had plasma testosterone values within normal limits. Normal women showed no significant variation throughout the menstrual cycle. Suppression of ovarian function with ethinyloestradiol, 0.60 mg daily for 6 days, reduced the plasma testosterone and urinary androsterone and aetiocholanolone by 27 and 28% respectively. The reduction was statistically significant at the 98 and 99.9% level. Dexamethasone treatment for 2 days with 2 mg daily resulted in a 75% reduction in androsterone and aetiocholanolone excretion and a 30% reduction in plasma testosterone. Combined treatment brought about a 46 and 74% reduction in plasma testosterone and urinary androgens respectively. Dexamethasone administration almost completely removed dehydroepiandrosterone from the urine, whereas a 38% increase in urinary excretion of this steroid was observed during oestrogen administration. This increase was not statistically significant.