Studies of adrenocortical function of women with idiopathic hirsutism: response to 25 units of ACTH.

Abstract

Eight normal women and 18 women with hirsutism but without ovarian enlargement were infused for 6 hr with 25 units of ACTH. Urines were collected in divided portions before, during and after infusions. There was no significant difference between the rates of excretion of 17-ketosteroids or 17-hydroxycorticosteroids by the hirsute or normal women before infusion, but the women with hirsutism excreted more 17-ketosteroids than did the control subjects during and after the time of the infusion; they excreted more 17-hydroxycorticosteroids during the first 3 hr of the infusion, but not afterward. There was no difference in the excretion of pregnanetriol by the 2 groups before administration of ACTH or in the rise produced by ACTH. Plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were not different in the 2 groups before ACTH was given, and the response to ACTH was the same in both groups. Certain of these patients had histories of development of hirsutism after a severe emotional stress. The possible contribution of emotiona...