title: Is 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione a better marker of adrenal androgen excess than dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate?
abstract: To determine whether the adrenal androgen 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione is a more sensitive and specific marker than dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, we compared these serum androgens in 81 women with anovulatory hyperandrogenism before treatment, after corticotropin and corticotropin-releasing-factor stimulation, and after short- and long-term dexamethasone suppression. Of all subjects, 65% and 57% had elevated levels of 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione (greater than 2.0 ng/ml) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (greater than 2.8 micrograms/ml), respectively. However, 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels did not correlate in either the women with hyperandrogenism (r = 0.12) or the 26 normal women (r = 0.29). After 0.25 mg corticotropin was administered intravenously (n = 16), 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione increased by 157% +/- 53% (mean +/- SEM), whereas dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol increased by 6% +/- 2%, 46% +/- 10%, 416% +/- 80%, and 2326% +/- 371%, respectively. After intravenous administration of 100 micrograms corticotropin-releasing factor to eight patients, the percent change from baseline level to peak was 148% +/- 26%, 24% +/- 5%, 61% +/- 15%, 117% +/- 15%, and 116% +/- 18% for 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and cortisol, respectively. After 2 mg dexamethasone for 3 days (n = 10), 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and testosterone were suppressed by 95% +/- 2%, 74% +/- 3%, 51% +/- 9%, and 32% +/- 9%, respectively. Suppression with 0.5 mg dexamethasone for 3 months lowered 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels equally by 50% +/- 14% and 62% +/- 12%, respectively. 11 beta-Hydroxyandrostenedione is a useful marker of adrenal androgen secretion with a calculated sensitivity and specificity greater than that of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The greater sensitivity of 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione over dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to adrenal stimulation and suppression suggests its unique diagnostic use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Stanczyk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carmina
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Putz
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lobo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014770:Virilism / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; C003582:11-hydroxyandrostenedione