Relative diagnostic value of serum non-SHBG-bound testosterone, free androgen index and free testosterone in the assessment of mild to moderate hirsutism.
Recent evidence suggests that steroid hormone loosely bound to albumin is available for target-cell entry. Preliminary studies have suggested that a measure of this fraction, non-sex-hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone (NSB-T), provides the best in vitro diagnostic test for idiopathic hirsutism. We compared the diagnostic value of NSB-T, total testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), and the free androgen index (FAI) in supporting the clinical diagnosis in 22 pre-menopausal women with hirsutism. NSB-T supported the diagnosis in 50% of cases, compared with 23% for T, 55% for fT by analogue RIA, and 68% for FAI. We conclude that in mild to moderate hirsutism the measurement of NSB-T does not yield diagnostic information addition to that provided by the FAI.
Department of Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
L F
LF
Blight
S J
SJ
Judd
G H
GH
White
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D000728:Androgens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone