Abnormal adrenal responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone in hyperandrogenic women.
The plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (D), androstenedione (A), pregnenolone (delta 5P), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-delta 5P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), 11-deoxycortisol (S), and cortisol (F) were measured before, and 30 and 60 minutes after, a bolus intravenous injection of 25 units of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in nine normal women and in fifteen patients with a variety of manifestations of androgen excess. Patients with androgen excess demonstrated significantly higher mean baseline levels of T, D, A, delta 5P, 17-delta 5P, and 17-P. After a bolus intravenous injection of 25 units of ACTH, higher-than-normal increments were noted for the following steroids: delta 5P (one patient), 17-delta 5P (one patient), D (two patients), P (one patients), 17-P (two patients), and S (two patients). Following ACTH injections, the ratios of increments in plasma steroid pairs were computed to estimate the efficiency of several adrenal enzymes, and evidence suggesting partial deficiency of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase delta 4-5 isomerase (five patients) and 11 beta-hydroxylase (five patients) was found. In addition, 6 of the 15 patients with androgen excess exhibited an abnormally high increment in D relative to the increment in F. The data show that apparent abnormalities in adrenal steroid biosynthesis are a frequent occurrence in patients with hyperandrogenism.
D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D000728:Androgens; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone