Serum 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol sulphate and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol sulphate in hirsute females with polycystic ovarian disease.
Serum sulphates of 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol (5-ADIOL-S), 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (3 alpha-DIOL-S) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S), unconjugated androstene-dione (AD) and testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index (FAI), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by specific radioimmunoassay in 28 hirsute women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO) and in normal women (n = 73). Mean levels of steroids measured were significantly elevated, and SHBG significantly depressed, in the women with PCO with values (mean +/- SE) for 5-ADIOL-S (516 +/- 51 vs 267 +/- 10 nmol/l), 3 alpha-DIOL-S (130 +/- 9 vs 52 +/- 2 nmol/l), DHEA-S (7.3 +/- 0.5 vs 4.4 +/- 0.2 mumol/l), AD (11.3 +/- 1.1 vs 3.4 +/- 0.2 nmol/l), T (3.3 +/- 0.2 vs 1.5 +/- 0.1 nmol/l) and 17OHP (5.1 +/- 0.8 vs 2.8 +/- 0.2 nmol/l). SHBG levels were 31 +/- 2.9 vs 65 +/- 2.5 nmol/l, and the free androgen index [100 x T (nmol/l) divided by (SHBG nmol/l)] was 12.5 +/- 1.4 vs 2.4 +/- 0.1. The mean LH to FSH ratio was also elevated at 2.8 +/- 0.3. These studies suggest that the measurement of 5-ADIOL-S and DHEA-S may indicate adrenal gland involvement in PCO while 3 alpha-DIOL-S appears to be a reflection of peripheral androgen metabolism. A comprehensive biochemical profile of PCO should thus include the analysis of these sulphoconjugates as well as unconjugated steroids.
Montalto
J
J
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Funder
J W
JW
Yong
A B
AB
Davies
H E
HE
Connelly
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000097:blood*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000097:blood*; D015114:Androstenediol / Q000097:blood*; D000734:Androstenediols / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism
D000728:Androgens; D000732:Androstanols; D000734:Androstenediols; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D015114:Androstenediol