Circulating leptin concentrations in women with hirsutism.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate serum leptin concentrations in hirsute women.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Tertiary institutional hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-three hirsute women and 11 healthy female controls.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained at baseline and on day 1 (gonadal stimulation) and day 21 (gonadal suppression) after the IM injection of a single 3.75-mg dose of triptorelin.


METHODS
Leptin, T, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin, and glucose levels and free androgen index.


RESULTS
Leptin levels were increased in hirsute women in comparison with control subjects at baseline and on day 1. Leptin levels increased on day 1 compared with baseline and then decreased to baseline by day 21. Leptin levels correlated with body mass index (r = 0.76), SHBG levels (r = -0.52), free androgen index (r = 0.38), insulin levels (r = 0.46), and the glucose/insulin ratio (r = -0.38). When the effect of obesity on these results was removed by analysis of covariance and partial correlation analysis, leptin levels remained elevated only on day 1 and the only correlations that remained significant were those of leptin with insulin (r = 0.24) and the glucose/insulin ratio (r = -0.24).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased leptin levels found in hirsute women are related mainly to obesity and also to insulin resistance. Leptin levels increased during gonadal stimulation and returned to baseline during gonadal suppression, suggesting that leptin also is influenced by the gonadal axis.
Escobar-Morreale
H F
HF
Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. hescobar@mvax.fmed.uam.es
Serrano-Gotarredona
J
J
Varela
C
C
García-Robles
R
R
Sancho
J M
JM
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate
D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone