Three types of polycystic ovarian syndrome in relation to androgenic function.
OBJECTIVE
To re-evaluate the concept of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in view of androgenic function.


METHODS
Patients were studied endocrinologically and ultrasonographically.


METHODS
This study was performed as a clinical investigation.


METHODS
Sixty-nine euprolactinemic anovulatory patients with luteinizing hormone (LH) hypersecretion and 18 normal volunteers were selected.


METHODS
One hundred micrograms of LH-releasing hormone were administered.


METHODS
It was possible to divide PCOS patients into three types.


RESULTS
Patients with neither hirsutism nor elevation of serum androstenedione (delta 4) and/or testosterone (T) were designated as type I PCOS (n = 20). Patients without hirsutism but with elevated delta 4 and/or T were referred to as type II PCOS (n = 33). Patients with both hirsutism and elevation of delta 4 and/or T were defined as type III PCOS (n = 16). Concentrations of delta 4 appeared gradedly increasing in types I, II, and III in that order, whereas T concentrations were significantly higher in types II and III than in control. Ultrasonographically, cystic ovaries were found in 88%, 84%, and 100% of types I, II, and III patients, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It is postulated that each type may represent a subset of whole spectrum of PCOS from Stein-Leventhal syndrome to simple anovulation with LH hypersecretion.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
I
I
Takai
S
S
Taii
K
K
Takakura
T
T
Mori
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000209:etiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D006062:Gonadotropins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone